He was born in Smith Center, Kansas, the son of Addie (née Munson) and John Walter Pattee.
Pattee enrolled at Kansas in 1943, before joining the United States Navy where he served stateside in the U.S.
[2][4] Frank was instrumental as one of the most versatile players on the team which led to him also filling in at several other positions while at Kansas and during the 1948 Orange Bowl game.
[2] After graduating in 1949, he was drafted in the sixth round of the 1949 AAFC as the 41st overall pick by the Baltimore Colts,[6] and in the 23rd round of the 1949 NFL draft as the 228th overall pick by the Washington Redskins,[7] but chose not to pursue a career in professional football.
Pattee married Betty Jo O'Neal on June 16, 1946, at the Danforth Chapel on the campus of Kansas.