James A. “Jim” Frost, founder and CEO of Frost Cutlery and member of the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business, passed away on January 7, 2021. Mr. Frost had a remarkable impact on the Chattanooga region’s business community.
Read Mr. Frost’s Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Biography
From Mr. Frost’s Tribute via Heritage Funeral Home:
Mr. Frost was born on November 13, 1941, to the late Margaret McGhee and James Austin Frost. He began his career as a third shift worker at Farmers Chemical plant. Jim used his drive for success to create a new business venture, selling knives in his lunch bucket. By 1978, Jim was importing knives under the Frost Cutlery brand. As founder and CEO of Frost Cutlery he became affectionately known as “The Knife Man.” He began collecting pocket knives in 1969 as a hobby, this small hobby quickly became a multi-million dollar business known worldwide in the cutlery industry. After fifty years in business and 100 associates, the Frost family of brands encompasses over 50 world renowned product lines and is headquartered in its 150,000 square foot Ooltewah, TN location. The business began in Jim’s lunch bucket and quickly grew out of the trunk of his car, garage, and four increasingly larger warehouses.
In 2004 Jim launched the inception of his multi-media TV show nationally known as “Cutlery Corner Network”. His passion for being on air became a way for him to touch the lives of his faithful viewers all over the United States. In 2013, a new 27,000 square foot showroom was added. “The Knife Shoppe” was established whereas knife enthusiasts may shop for many major cutlery brands including the 50+ private labeled Frost family of brands. In 2011, Mr. Frost was inaugurated into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame in the Rollins College of Business at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He was recognized again in the 2019 publication of Profiles in Entrepreneurial Leadership 20th Anniversary album.
Jim “The Godfather of Softball in Tennessee” and founder of the highly successful Frost Falcons fastpitch softball organization was inspired by watching the youth of our community develop their potential not only in the classroom, but on the softball fields. His daughter Stefanie was the first Frost Falcon. From the humble beginnings of the ball fields behind Bess T. Shepherd Elementary School, to the Tyner Recreation Complex where in 1988, with the help of the City of Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Recreation Department, Mr. Frost and others were able to build a seven-field complex. Following, two additional complexes being built or renovated, to the 1998 world class softball facility built within Warner Park complex stands the iconic “Jim Frost Stadium”. The inaugural game event in 1998 between UTK Lady Vols and UTC Lady Mocs was a sellout even with additional outfield seating to handle the demand. Since, Jim Frost Stadium hosted the USA Olympic team, many tournaments and recreational games, and continues to be the home for the UTC Lady Mocs. Seeing the “Stadium of 1000 Dreams” once host thousands of young student athletes every year, made the vision of Mr. Frost proud to be a part of this community. Through the Frost Falcons organization he provided thousands of girls in Chattanooga the opportunity to play the game he so loved.
In 2013, Jim built the Frost Falcons Softball Academy in Ooltewah which has been used by local youth teams as well as college and high school teams from all over the United States free of charge. Jim’s son Stephen has kept the legacy alive by being a coach for the past 14 years.
Many college scholarship opportunities have been awarded to student athletes impacted by his generous love and passion to give so all could have the opportunities to reach their potentials. As of two years ago Jim sponsored the first Frost Falcon baseball team in recognition of his 10 year old grandson Charlie.
His passion and enthusiasm for helping people through softball was infectious. An avid supporter of the game locally, regionally and nationally for more than three decades. Because of Jim, Chattanooga became known throughout the nation as a softball hotspot.
Jim has also been a strong supporter of Tennessee Lady Vols softball during Ralph and Karen Weekly’s 20-year tenure, attending numerous games and helping build their indoor hitting facility.
ASA Hall of Fame; Nationally recognized with the Robert M. Artz Award for National Recreation and Parks Association.
Jim’s philanthropy does not stop with his generosity impact to the youth and softball. Recently, Jim donated $2 million to the new Children’s Hospital at Erlanger making a state of the art outpatient hospital that will meet the needs of children for many years. In addition, because of his love and support for our military, Jim continues to support the UTC Gary W. Rollins College of Business Veterans Entrepreneurship Program.
Jim was a loving father, husband, and loved his grandchildren. He enjoyed working and did until the day he became sick. He also enjoyed fishing with family and friends, watching his grandchildren playing sports, cooking, traveling, supporting and attending the UT Vols games, planting flowers, and decorating for Christmas.
God blessed Jim Frost and in turn he blessed others. He made an impression on every person he came in contact with and he will never be forgotten. Though he may not physically be with us today, his legacy will live on!
Jim is survived by his loving wife, Beverly; son, Stephen (Angela) Frost; daughter, Stefanie (Gunnar) Durham; stepson, Parker (Courtney) Nicholson; grandchildren, Alexis (Mike) Salerno, Emerald Frost, Pierce Frost, Faith Alexander, Sarah Payton Durham, and Charlie Durham; and great-grandchild, Sofia Salerno; brother, Edward (Ed) and Judy Frost and their children, Mike (Toni) Frost, and Stacie (Keith) Cole.
Just being lazy one night some 15 years ago I was flipping through the TV and came across this guy selling knives. After about fifteen minutes I was hooked, I love collecting knives and watching CCN. I will miss seeing you on your show. RIP Mr. Frost
Rip Jim. I have collected off and on for years. And you made it affordable and great.
You had a great set of Chippewa s, they were like the Oklahoma flag on the bone handle color and state seal snap. They are great gifts to treasured kin folk. I will miss your banter. God bless your family.
As with Mr. Pike, Jim Frost’s Cutlery Corner Network hooked me on knife collecting. Jim’s passion for his business and local philanthropy is legendary. I miss seeing the man really enjoy his work! RIP Jim Frost.
I still have two Frost knives, the “Little Trapper” my DAD gave me when I was in the U.S. Navy and the “Bear Claw” I received from my friend and YouTube knife enthusiast Donavan Tew. RIP Mr Frost, you will be missed sir.