Born in Trinity, KY, he entered the US Naval Academy, Annapolis in 1950 where, besides being an outstanding student he was also a world class athlete. In 1952, he won an Olympic Gold Medal at the summer games in Helsinki, Finland, competing in Men's Coxed Eights Rowing. Unlike many U.S. Naval Academy rowers, he went on to win three titles after graduation, taking national titles in both the association single sculls and the quad sculls while rowing for the Potomac Boating Club, Washington DC. During the Vietnam War, he flew 266 combat missions flying the F-4. On December 30, 1968 Major Frye flew a mission in direct support of friendly ground forces. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he made repeated passes in marginal weather conditions, through extremely intense and accurate automatic weapons fire to deliver his ordnance with devastating accuracy. On the last pass, hostile fire hit his aircraft, painfully wounding Major Frye in the left hand. Even though he was in intense pain, losing blood, and in danger of losing consciousness, Major Frye directed his rear seat pilot to over-fly Bien Thuy Air Base and land at Bien Hoa Air Base to give him maximum opportunity to successfully complete a night rear seat landing. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Major Frye has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force." He retired as a U.S. Air Force Colonel and went into Aerospace management. In retirement, he chose to spend much of his valuable time serving his community by serving on the Fleming-Mason Airport Board. While a true hero, Wayne was proud of his service, but never bragged about it. Even close friends were surprised when they read he had won an Olympic Gold Medal in the local paper.