Frank Leo Hutter was born in Auckland on 6 February 1910 and after early education at Auckland Grammar School entered the University of Otago Medical School, qualifying in 1935. He spent a year in house appointments at Palmerston North Hospital before coming to England for further postgraduate appointments, working in several London hospitals until the outbreak of war. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1939 and served with the British Expeditionary Force in France; he was one of the few New Zealanders to be present at Dunkirk and was evacuated to England. At that stage the New Zealand Army sent him for further training in plastic surgery, working under Sir Harold Gillies and Sir Archibald Mclndoe. After demobilisation he returned to London and passed the FRCS in 1946. Two years later he was awarded the FRACS and appointed plastic surgeon to the Wellington Hospital and the Hutt Hospital where much of the plastic surgery was performed. He played an important role in the advancement of his specialty in New Zealand and in addition to his professional duties maintained an active interest in the medical services of the New Zealand Army. He served as Director General from 1957 to 1966 and throughout this time encouraged doctors to have some service association and experience. After retiring from professional work in 1973 he continued to be interested in the careers of those whom he had trained. He lived near Napier where he was able to enjoy his outdoor pursuits of bowls and walking. He died on 12 January 1985, aged 74 and is survived by his wife, Audrey.