COL James Franklin Argabright

COL James Franklin “Frank” Argabright, age 69, left his earthly life from his residence in Hoover, AL, on October 12, 2021.  Frank was a decorated retired United States Army Colonel.  He grew up in Meade County and was a graduate of the Meade County High School class of 1970.

Frank was commissioned a Military Intelligence Officer in 1978, after serving as an enlisted soldier, both on active duty and in the Reserves.  His initial assignments were as a Counterintelligence Officer, Resource Coordinator, and Intelligence Field Office Commander with the 20th Military Intelligence Detachment.  Other assignments throughout his military career were with the 2nd Army Military Intelligence Command; 403rd Military Intelligence Detachment; 81st Regional Support Command, 345th Military Intelligence Battalion; Deputy Director of Intelligence, US Central Command, MacDill AFB, Florida.  In this position at MacDill AFB, he directed intelligence activities in support of the command’s warfighting mission regional contingencies, and counterterrorism operations for the unified Commander, five forward-deployed Component Commanders, and four forward-deployed joint Task Forces, directly involved in combat operations.  He was deployed to the Southwest Asian Theatre and directed intelligence operations from the US Central Command forward-deployed Headquarters, Camp As Sayliyah, Doha, Qatar.  10 January 2004, COL Argabright was given the change of command from COL Clarence Martin, Jr., for the 8th Brigade (ROTC) 100th Division (Institutional Training) at Ft. Knox, KY.

COL Argabright’s awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters; Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters; joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Achievement Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Good Conduct Medal; Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters; National Defense Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Gold Hourglass and “M” 2 Devices; Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon with Bronze 8.  COL Argabright holds a Bachelor Degree from McKendree College in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree from the Army War College in Strategic Studies.  We, the family and friends, salute COL Argabright.

Frank was preceded in death by his mother, Lavona J. “Bonnie” (Barger) Argabright Szwed; his father, James W. “J.W.” Argabright; his maternal grandparents, Robert and Mattie Barger; and his paternal grandparents, Owen and Catherine Argabright.  Frank leaves behind his loving wife, Margaret Segrest; his siblings, Jequetta “Jettie” (Dwayne) Burnett, Nancy (Mike) Stone, Paul (Rena) Argabright, Kathy (Doug) Barker, Angie (Rick) Dolak, Madonna (Robbie) Ammons, Kelly (Donna) Argabright, Bruce (Angie) Argabright; several nieces and nephews; and friends from all around the world.

A celebration of COL Argabright’s life will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, at the chapel of the Hager Funeral Home.  Burial, with military honors, will follow at St. George Cemetery.  Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Tuesday, and from 10:00 AM until the time of service on Wednesday.  In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, 269 Hanover Street, Hanover, MA   02339; or to the American Stroke Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX  75284-0692. 

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