Frank Leo Pinet, superintendent of the city schools of Parsons, and one of the most prominent educators of the state as well as a versatile writer, bears the distinction of being a Kansan, both by birth and by residence. He was born July 28, 1881, in Onaga, Pottawatomie county. His parents, Frank B. and Felicie (Lefebvre) Pinet, were both foreign-born, the father's nativity having been Lyons, France, while that of the mother was Brussels, Belgium. They immigrated to America with their respective parents, who were among those that formed the French colony at Neuchatel, Nemaha county, Kansas. In this state Frank B. Pinet and Felicie Lefebvre were married. In earlier life the former was engaged as a building contractor but for the past several years he has operated a fruit farm near Onaga, in which town the son, Frank Leo, was reared.

Superintendent Pinet attended the public schools until seventeen years of age; then for a short time he attended Campbell University at Holton, Kan. After teaching one year at Fostoria, Kan., he entered the Kansas State Normal School at Emporia, where he remained from 1900 to 1902. In the latter year he became principal of a ward school at Chanute, Kan., where he remained two years. He then returned to the Kansas State Normal School, where he completed the four years Latin course, graduating in 1905. In that year he accepted the superintendency of the schools at Erie, Kan., which position he retained four years, or until chosen superintendent of the Chanute, Kan., city schools. He held the latter position one year, then, though elected to the position for another year, he resigned it in order to accept the superintendency of the city schools at Parsons, Kan., where he has since remained. By teaching and attending school alternately he was enabled not only to defray the expenses of obtaining a splendid education, but to forge his way to the front among the teachers of the state. He is prominently connected with both the Kansas State Teachers' Association and the Southeastern Kansas Teachers' Association and, in 1911, was elected president of the latter association. From an early period in life Superintendent Pinet has written more or less for the daily papers and for periodical publications, both literary and educational. He has contributed well-accepted verse to the "Lippencott," "Recreation," "Outdoor Life" magazines and to the Kansas City, Mo., and Chicago daily papers. He is the author of a volume of pleasing poetry, published under the title of "Highway and Other Poems." He is a Republican in his political views and though he does not participate in party work, he is thoroughly informed on political subjects and on the political situation of the time. His fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic order, being a Master Mason.

In 1902 Superintendent Pinet was united in marriage with Miss Hattie B. McClure of Kansas City, Mo. Both Mr. and Mrs. Pinet are among the active and valued members of the social and literary circles of Parsons.