Frank Mundy Dies

Frank Mundy, 90, of Atlanta died Thursday from complications of a fall and related health issues at Westminster Commons. There are no funeral arrangements at this time.

His real name was Francisco Eduardo Melendez. The Georgia native — who was born in Atlanta and lived his early years in an orphanage in Macon — adopted a new name when he got into racing. He added a nickname, too — “The Rebel.”

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Frank Mundy’s home in Atlanta was like a museum that paid tribute to stock-car racing and a driver who helped pioneer the sport.

The driver would be Mundy himself, who was present at NASCAR’s start in 1947. He was part of a group of drivers, owners and mechanics who met in Daytona Beach to form the NASCAR stock-car racing organization. Mr. Mundy talked about the historic meeting in a 1999 article that appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Rest In Peace, Frank.