A native Hoosier, Frank H. Roby was born in Indianapolis and raised in Zionsville. He graduated from Purdue University in electrical engineering with honors in 1933, and he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the reserves. After completing military service, he accepted a position at the Square D Company in Milwaukee only to be called back into the service during World War II. He served in the Signal Corps, was assigned to the Pentagon in Washington, D. C., as a planning officer and rose to the rank of Major.

After the war, he returned to Square D Company and was assigned to the Milwaukee office. Later he moved to the Detroit office and took charge of sales and world-wide marketing. After 25 years at Square D, he accepted an offer to become president of a competing firm, Federal Pacific Electric Company.

In 1965 Roby was asked to take over a large malt and grain processing business. Not surprisingly, he sold the malt and grain businesses and established a large electrical and electronic manufacturing business Sola Basic Industries. When Sola Basic merged with General Signal Corporation, Roby became director and senior vice president of General Signal. In 1980, he retired from active management of the company but continued to serve as an executive consultant specializing in the acquisition and sales of subsidiary companies.

Roby was president of the American Standards Association and a director of the Milwaukee Blood Center. He also served his community as a director of the American Red Cross, a Boy Scout leader, and a regent of the Milwaukee School of Engineering. He received an honorary doctorate from Purdue in 1967.