Frank J. Klima '54
Inducted into the Academy 1999

President, Superior Rock Bit Co. and F. J. Klima, Inc.; Mining engineer, Oliver Iron Mining Division, U.S. Steel Corporation, Minnesota; Started his own company, F. J. Klima, Inc., of Virginia, MN as an engineering, sales and management company; Founder and president of the Superior Rock Bit Co.; Promoted improved mining methods and developed new products for the benefit of the mining industry; Holds U.S. patents in “Adaptive Control for Rotary Drills,” “Method of Making and Placing of Slurry Explosives or Blasting Agents” and others related to the design and manufacture of sealed bearing rotary drill rock bits; Served as Century II Campaign volunteer; Alumni Association Lifetime Member; Actively involved with Tau Beta Pi, the American Institute of Mining Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, CIMM, ASM-International, and the Society of Mining Engineers.

Frank J. Klima graduated with a BS degree in Mining Engineering from the Michigan College of Mining and Technology in 1954.

A native of the Upper Peninsula iron mining town of Alpha, Frank served in the U.S. Navy during WWII from 1945 to 1949 before enrolling in college.
After graduation, Frank served as a mining engineer for the Oliver Iron Mining Division of U.S. Steel Corporation in Minnesota from 1954 to 1965. After 12 years of involvement in mining engineering and mine operations, he worked for 25 years in the metallurgy, design, manufacturing, research and sales of rotary drill rock bits. Frank started his own company, F. J. Klima, Inc., of Virginia, MN as an engineering, sales and management company. He has been president of F. J. Klima, Inc. since 1966. Frank is also the founder and president of the Superior Rock Bit Co., formerly named the Superior Blasthole Bit Co. The Superior Rock Bit Co. is a manufacturer of rotary drill rock bits, and has become one of the most successful rotary drill bit companies in the mining industry.

Frank has applied his knowledge and experience to promote improved mining methods and to develop new products for the benefit of the mining industry. Frank holds U.S. patents in “Adaptive Control for Rotary Drills,” “Method of Making and Placing of Slurry Explosives or Blasting Agents” and a number of other items related to the design and manufacture of sealed bearing rotary drill rock bits.
Frank has been actively involved with Tau Beta Pi, the American Institute of Mining Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, CIMM, ASM-International, and the Society of Mining Engineers. He has been a Century II Campaign volunteer and is an Alumni Association Lifetime Member.