L. Franklin “Frank” Elmore was born July 20, 1951, in Florence, to parents Harriett Jeanette Baker and Louie E. Elmore. In 1969, he became the first person in his family to attend college, enrolling in what would become Francis Marion University. While working his way through college, Frank was elected president of his freshman, sophomore, and junior classes; served as president of the student body his senior year; played on the tennis team; and was active in Greek life, later returning to Francis Marion to organize a chapter of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973 from Francis Marion University, and his J.D. in 1976 from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
After graduating law school, he worked with D. Kenneth Baker and later with Mc- Gowan, Keller, Eaton, Brodie & Elmore, P.A. In 1987, he joined Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., where he expanded his growing construction law practice. In 2003, he founded Elmore & Wall, P.A., in Greenville. In 2011, he partnered with Mason A. “Andy” Goldsmith, Jr. to form the firm that is now known as Elmore, Goldsmith, Kelley, and deHoll, P.A. For more than four decades, he represented private and public owners, general contractors, subcontractors, sureties, and construction industry trade associations on myriad complex legal and risk management issues.
Frank was a member of the Greenville County Bar Association and the SC Bar, where he served on its Board of Governors, House of Delegates, and as chair of the Construction Law Section and the Professional Responsibility Committee. He was active in the American Bar Association and served on numerous committees and sections.
He served as a member of the advisory board of the Clemson University School of Construction Management and Building Sciences and former chair of the S.C. Transportation Policy Research Council (now SCFOR). In recognition of his industry service, he was an inaugural inductee into the Carolinas AGC Hall of Fame in 2016.
He was admitted to practice law before the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals; he also was a certified mediator in the South Carolina state and federal courts. Frank was a fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America and the American College of Construction Lawyers, where he served on its board. He was a master in the Haynsworth-Perry Chapter of the American Inns of Court and served on the National Construction Industry Panel of Arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association.
Frank enjoyed playing tennis and liked hunting with his father-in-law, C.A. “Chick” Smith. His passion and enthusiasm for golf was so great that he was often tasked with organizing golf outings for both the ABA and the American College of Construction Lawyers. He was a member of the Poinsett Club of Greenville, Verdae Golf Club, Commerce Club and The Cotillion Club. His love for Francis Marion continued throughout his life and for the past two decades, Frank served as a Trustee of the University and as a member of the Francis Marion University Foundation Board of Directors. In recognition of his service to the University, the board established the Frank Elmore Scholar- ship, annually awarding $2,500; 32 students received it in the Fall of 2022.
L. Franklin “Frank” Elmore died on December 28, 2021, which was also his 45th wedding anniversary. He is survived by his spouse, Lee Smith Elmore; two daughters, Marguerite Elmore and Sara Elmore; mother, Harriett Elmore; three brothers, Mike Elmore (Debbie), Robbie Elmore, and Ken Elmore; two nephews, Baker Elmore and McCuen Elmore; sister-in-law, Marguerite S. Golden; and his dedicated assistant for 38 years, Sharon Brown. He was predeceased by his father, Louie E. Elmore.