Postal Chief Has Debt to Repay

California banker Anthony M. Frank sees his new post as chief of the postal service as a way to repay the United States. Frank, a refugee from Nazi Germany, was appointed the nation’s 69th postmaster general, to succeed Preston R. Tisch. “The courtesy this country gave to my family and myself when we arrived from Nazi Germany in 1937 is not forgotten and I would like to return some of that,” Frank, 56, said. Both of Frank’s parents held doctoral degrees in economics. His father became a runner on Wall Street and eventually a stockbroker, while his mother became a professor at Bryn Mawr College. Frank said he is taking early retirement as chief executive of First Nationwide Bank, the nation’s sixth-largest savings and loan. The San Francisco-based financial institution was bought by Ford Motor Co. two years ago for nearly $500 million.

--Winter-weary eyes were trained on Punxsutawney, Pa., as Phil, the prognosticating roundhog, emerged at dawn from his luxurious burrow atop Gobbler’s Knob. He peered through the rain at the crowd of reporters, photographers and several hundred spectators--and did not see his shadow. That means, explained James Means, president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, that spring will be early this year.

--Eleanor Mondale, daughter of former Vice President Walter F. Mondale and his wife, Joan,plans to marry Keith Van Horne of the Chicago Bears this spring. The couple will be wed in Hudson, Wis., on April 16, her family announced. Mondale, 28, is writing a book about the children of U.S. presidents. Van Horne, 30-year-old offensive tackle on the National Football League team, played for USC from 1976 through 1980.

--A luncheon planned to honor Melina Mercouri, Greece’s minister of culture and science, included a helping of international discord. Mercouri said she skipped the gathering in Houston because Mayor Kathy Whitmire was not going to show up. Mercouri sent a representative, but a spokesman for Whitmire said there had been a “gross miscommunication” because the mayor never had planned to attend. “I was invited by the mayor. Her name is on the invitation,” Mercouri said. “One of the purposes of my visit was to have great discussions with your mayor, but I am very surprised. There have been no telephone calls, no flowers. Nothing.” Later, Whitmire and Mercouri spoke privately before a reception, then said that the earlier episode was a misunderstanding.