Frank L. Greathouse

Photo of Frank Greathouse.

Frank L. Greathouse was a dedicated leader in government auditing and financial management, whose career was marked by a commitment to excellence and ethics. After a distinguished career in public accounting, Greathouse joined Bill Snodgrass’s staff in 1973 to serve as director of state audit and assistant to the state comptroller. In this role, he was instrumental in advancing government auditing standards and practices, earning recognition across the field. Greathouse was deeply involved in several organizations that promoted the enrichment of government auditing. His contributions were recognized in 1978 when he received the Donald L. Scantlebury Memorial Award from the Joint Financial Management Improvement Program. 

A respected leader, Greathouse served as president of both the National State Auditors Association (NSAA) and GFOA. He assured that Tennessee's annual comprehensive financial report met the high standards required to receive GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, making Tennessee the first state to achieve this recognition in June 1979. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Nashville chapter of the Association of Government Accountants (AGA), serving as its first president. In 1985, he was honored with the AGA’s national Distinguished Leadership Award. One of Greathouse’s most notable accomplishments was his work in helping to form the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). He served as chairman of the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council and the GASB Task Force on Financial Reporting, playing a crucial role in shaping the future of governmental accounting standards. In addition to all this, he was a member of the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) Board of Trustees, chaired the National Council on Governmental Accounting, and contributed significantly to the State Government Accounting Project coordinated by the Council of State Governments. After a remarkable career, Frank Greathouse retired in November 1988. His leadership and tireless commitment to the principles of excellence and ethics continue to serve as standards for the government auditing community.