Francis L. Dale

Francis Lykins Dale (1921 in Champaign, Illinois – December 1, 1993) was an American businessman and Republican political operative.

Dale graduated from Duke University and obtained a law degree from the University of Virginia. He had been a partner in the Cincinnati law firm of Frost & Jacobs.

During World War II he served as the commanding officer of USS Pillsbury, an antisubmarine craft that captured the German submarine U-505, among other exploits.

After returning to civilian life, Dale served as a partner in the Cincinnati law firm of Frost & Jacobs. He was also publisher of The Cincinnati Enquirer from 1965 to 1973. He was the last publisher to preside over the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner.

In 1967, Dale led a group that bought the Cincinnati Reds from Bill DeWitt. As team president from 1967 to 1973, Dale was a supporter of building the downtown Riverfront Stadium, the Reds' home when the park opened in 1970. Generally, Dale was a hands-off owner; he left the Reds in the hands of general manager Bob Howsam. Dale sold his interest to minority partner Louis Nippert in 1973.

Dale served on Richard M. Nixon's Citizens Committee to Re-Elect the President from 1971–1972, and was appointed by Nixon to serve as United States representative to the United Nations in Geneva in 1972 with the rank of ambassador.

Francis Dale died of a heart attack on December 1, 1993 while visiting Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. He is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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