Frank Meeks: The E! True Hollywood Story

[stevearino]

October 8, 1990: An episode of the short-lived 1990 version of "To Tell the Truth" is telecast on the NBC Television Network, with British TV Personality Gordon Elliott (born in Liverpool, England on September 30, 1956 and raised soon afterwards in Lewisham, Australia, a small town near Sydney) as host.

The Panel for the day was frequent GS panelist Sarah Purcell (known for co-hosting the original Reality show, NBC's "Real People"), Lynn Swann (retired Pro Football Player who the following month would replace Gordon as host of "To Tell the Truth" after HE abruptly stepped down after the revival's first 2 months on air, and who in February 1991 would himself be replaced by the legendary Alex Trebek after Lynn stepped down as host), Gloria Allred (the famed Hollywood lawyer), and British actor David Niven, Jr. (son of legendary star David Niven).

As per usual in the revival, a segment used for this version only was called "One on One," which had a member of the Studio Audience play the Game.

This particular segment had audience member Tom Green (NOT the MTV comic originally from Canada), at the time at least a resident of San Jose, California, and a gentleman by the name of Frank Meeks, a 30-something man who had 2 stories to tell, only one of which was true: in the first segment, Frank claimed to be a former College Flunkee who later became President of his Collegiate Alma Mater at the University of Mississippi, while in the second segment, Frank claimed to deliver Domino's Pizza to then-President George "Daddy" Bush at the White House at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in D.C.

Among other questions, in the first segment, when asked by Sarah, what caused the University of Missisippi to make him their youngest-ever President, Frank claimed that they looked at his accomplishments AFTER initially flunking out, completing his undergrad at a Junior College and eventually earned his Doctorate in Education; when asked by Lynn what his most difficult collegiate subject was, Frank responded (paraphrasing him) "all of it," followed by the subsequent joke " I partied too much"; when asked by David, Jr. who the next youngest President of University of Mississippi was, Frank said, "I don't know."

In the second segment, when Sarah asked what kind of Pizza George & Barbara liked, his response: "Everything but Broccoli." When Lynn asked if he orders enough for the rest of the WH staff, Frank responded "He has Dan Quayle order the Pizzas for him." When asked by David, Jr. who he worked for, his response: "Domino's Pizza."

After the questions of both segments ended, Tom guessed, based on HIS being the youngest guy in HIS department at the time, that Frank delivered Pizza, after which Gordon said, "Frank, what's your true story?" To which Frank Meeks responded, "To Tell the Truth...I Deliver Domino's Pizza."

For correctly guessing the truth, Tom was subsequently awarded $500.

Had Tom been Stumped, per custom, Frank would have won $1000.

Born on August 27, 1956 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Frank Oscar Meeks grew up in nearby Gulfport, Mississippi, one of 2 boys (including a brother, Jimmy) born to parents Tommy and Janice Meeks (Tommy having died in 2001).

He DID attend the University of Mississippi as a college student, but luckily DID NOT flunk out, but rather earned his Bachelor's Degree in English & Political Science in 1978, aspiring at the time to be a local Lawyer.

However, to defray his Education costs, Frank found work as a Domino's Pizza deliverer in 1979, eventually becoming Store Manager soon after and, after 2 years working for future Mississippi Senator Trent Lott, decided to start a Domino's Pizza in Washington, D.C., eventually owning 60 Domino's Pizza locations in D.C. and surrounding areas in Virginia and Maryland both.

A lifelong Political Republican, Frank Meeks died of Pneumonia on November 9, 2004 at the too-young age of 48 in Alexandria, Virginia, his subsequent funeral attended by a number of Frank's close friends and family members.