Frank Bernard Cernik

Born March 1, 1928

Frank Bernard Cernik in his office.

Frank Cernik was born on March 1, 1928, on a family homestead east of Wahoo, Nebraska. He was one of 3 children, the middle child of Frank M Cernik and Bozena “Bessie” (ZIMOLA). He grew up on the farm and loved farming. Franks says, “he would have been a farmer his entire life until an accident he had when he was 18 years old.” He and his brother Ray were picking corn with a corn picker, and Frank got most of his right hand cut off. Losing his right hand ended his career as a farmer. Frank recalled an incident that happened right after the accident. He was lying on the couch and overheard his parents talking in the kitchen. They referred to a one-arm man in Wahoo and were concerned Frank would end up like him. That sparked a drive to make something of himself.

He started selling Kirby vacuum cleaners and worked at a packing plant, but what he did when he was 14 years old would be a key to his future. He had worked at a roller skating rink in Wahoo. He helped customers put on “clamp” skates and, in return, was allowed to skate for free.

In 1946, he opened his first skating rink, which was a portable rink. The rink included a portable maple floor and was enclosed by a huge tent. He moved it to various towns in eastern Nebraska, from Wahoo to Tekamah. One summer, the tent burned to the ground, as someone threw a cigarette on top of it.

Portable Tent Rink

In 1950, he bought Harker’s Roller Rink in Fremont, Nebraska, at 16th and Bell Streets and named it “Fremont Roller Rink”. His dad loaned him $20,000, and Frank bought the rink for $40,000. Behind the rink was a garage; he and his father-in-law converted it into a small house he lived in with his family. The four in the family shared one bedroom. The rink was a problematic and unruly mess. He cleaned the place up, hired a cop and got rid of what he called “greasers who were causing trouble and fighting.” Schools would not have skating parties. He turned it into a wholesome, family-friendly facility. He went to school carnivals with a spinning wheel and gave small prizes and free passes to kids. The schools started trusting him and started booking parties, and business thrived.

In 1960, he built a rink from the ground up on Military Street in Fremont, which he named Roller Village. He also had a drafting table in the basement of the house and worked on a new floor plan and concept for a new roller-skating center. He then moved his family to Omaha in 1967 and built Skateland on 108th and Q streets.

He implemented strict rules of conduct. Blue jeans and hair over the collar were not permitted. Business exploded. Rink operators from around the country came to visit to see what this guy from Nebraska was doing. The rink had many innovations and firsts in the roller-skating industry.

• • A new type of skating floor
  • Rental skates
  • Acoustical ceiling
  • and others

He sold his blueprints to many operators, who started building new rinks around the country. This led to a boom in the industry in the 1970s and the “Disco Ball Era.”

• • In 1970, Skateland in Bellevue, Nebraska, opened.
  • In 1971, Skateland in Irvington, Nebraska, opened.
  • In 1972, Skateland in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, opened.
  • In 1973, Skateland in Burnsville, Minnesota, opened.

• • In 1974, Skateland in Tempe, Arizona, opened.

Skateland Arizona groundbreaking article

• • In 1975, Skateland in Mesa, Arizona, opened.
  • In 1976, Skateland in Fargo, North Dakota, opened.

• • In 1981, Skateland 84th & F, Omaha, opened
  • In 1982, the MidCity Plaza Strip Center at 84th & F Street, Omaha, opened.
  • In 1982, Skateland 132nd & B, Omaha, opened.
  • He had a Corporate Office at 128th and Q Streets, Omaha, and a Warehouse at 132nd and A Streets, Omaha.

In 1990, Frank turned the Omaha facilities over to his sons Scott and Kevin. All the rinks have been sold or leased. Skatedaze on 132nd & B Streets in Omaha was the last to close. Four of the other locations sold still operate as roller skating rinks.

2008 USA Today Skate Daze Award

As an entrepreneur always on the move, he tried many other adventures in the mid 60’s:

• • Victory Marine in Fremont
  • Indoor Miniature Golf (Golfland) at 108th & Q in Omaha
  • Griffs Burger on Dodge Street in Omaha

Griffs Burgers

Frank has been inducted into the International Roller Skating Association Hall of Fame, the most coveted and prestigious award in the roller skating industry. He has been honored for outstanding contributions, development and advancement to the sport of roller skating and the industry and for the voluntary contribution of his time and talent. He also served as a Board Member, Vice President and Treasurer and was awarded a Lifetime Member.

Frank loved flying. He got his pilot’s license while in Fremont. Through the years, he owned nine airplanes. He also had several Motor Coaches and Motorcycle Trikes.

Skating brought Frank and his wife Phyllis together. They met at a rink when she brought her kids on several occasions. They have been married for 41 years. She worked with him at the rinks and in the office as a bookkeeper and secretary. Phyllis and another lady sent out 1,300 year-end W2 forms one year (before computers).

Frank and Phyllis spent most weekends and evenings going from one rink to another.

Frank was fortunate to have various family members working at the rinks, including all the children at times, his brother Frank and wife Elaine and nephews Chris Cernik and Steve Cernik. His sister Marie Smith also worked at Golfland.

Frank and Phyllis are now retired and living in Omaha. Frank has four children, all in Omaha. Diane Cernik, Scott Cernik (Pam), Kevin Cernik and Julie Chochon (Scott). Phyllis has two daughters, Jami Johnson in Wahoo, Nebraska and Joni Albers (Rick) in Idaho Springs, Colorado. Together, they have seven Grandchildren, three Great-Grandchildren, and one Step-Grandchild.

As a personal note from the author of this website, I fondly recall “many” weekend nights going skating with classmates and girlfriends. On the Holidays, most of the cousins would go late at night when the rink was closed and play roller skating sports. We were nuts.

UPDATE: Frank passed on February 26, 2020.