Frank T. Tobey was born September 25, 1890, in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of the late E.T. Tobey and the late Lily Thrall Tobey.

He was educated in Memphis schools, attending the Memphis Military Institute, Christian Brothers College and Captain Collier’s School. Completing his elementary education, he entered college with the idea of becoming an engineer. He pursued his studies along these lines, attending Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario [Canada]. As a sophmore, he entered the South Dakota State School of Mines at Rapid City, S.D., and later continued his studies in engineering at the University of Washington at Seattle. His mother, a gifted musician and a noted teacher of music in Memphis, saw that her son’s musical education was not neglected. While studying to become an engineer, he received an outstanding education in voice and was the possessor of a beautiful tenor voice.

Upon completion of his studies, he formed an engineering partnership with Mr. E.H. Porter, and at his partner’s death, moved to Huntingdon, Tenn., where he served as chief engineer for 32 drainage districts.

It was not until January 1, 1924 that Frank Tobey began his career with the City of Memphis. He first served as chief of an engineering survey party. He became chief clerk in the City Engineering Department on January 1, 1928. During the next 12 years he played an important role in the city’s public works program. He became the Comptroller and made numerous financial studies and surveys. He continued in the capacity of Comptroller until 1951, when he was elected to the office of Commissioner of Finances and Institutions. As the Commissioner he did his most outstanding work in the reorganization of John Gaston Hospital. A body snatching racket was broken up, night clinics were opened and plans were made for additions to the hospital.

Tobey was E. H. Crump's handpicked successor to Watkins Overton with whom he no longer saw eye to eye.  Unlike Overton Tobey readily embraced city planning.  He was mayor at the time of Crump's death in 1954 and had a good deal of support for his re-election in 1955.  Sadly Tobey died of a heart attack during that campaign.

Mayor Tobey was a family man. He and his wife, the former Lucille Adams, had a son, Frank T. Tobey, Jr., a structural engineer; a daughter, Mrs. Robert Wills; and three grandchildren. He lived at 11 North Ashlawn Drive. He was an elder in the Idelwild Presbyterian Church, where he and Mrs. Tobey attended regularly.