Chairman of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Jon F. Hanson announced today the selection of General Tommy R. Franks (Ret.) as the organization’s Gold Medal honoree for 2003. Now retired, General Franks was the Commander in Chief of the U.S. led coalitions in Operation Iraqi Freedom and in Afghanistan. The highest and most prestigious award bestowed by the Foundation, the Gold Medal has been awarded annually since 1958 and recognizes an outstanding American who has demonstrated integrity and honesty, achieved significant career success and has reflected the basic values of those who have excelled in amateur sport, particularly football.

“Following what has been a rich tradition of national and military leaders, we are pleased to announce that our 2003 Gold Medal recipient is General Tommy R. Franks (Ret.), an individual who throughout his life has shown the utmost dedication, commitment and leadership in leading the greatest team of all, the United States of America,” stated NFF Chairman Jon F. Hanson. “His exemplary devotion to our nation represents the very essence of The Foundation’s basic mission.”

Born to Ray and Lorene Franks in 1945, General Franks played football for Robert E. Lee High School in Midland, TX. A hard-nosed lineman, he carried the lessons of the gridiron into U.S. Army in 1965. Although his impressive military career has taken him far from west Texas in the past 38 years, General Franks never forgot his roots and the values he learned playing football.

“I am honored to be among the distinguished list of recipients of the NFF’s Gold Medal,” General Franks said. “There is no better classroom than the gridiron for teaching tomorrow’s leaders about discipline, teamwork and leadership. General Douglas MacArthur said it best when he stated, ‘Upon the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that upon other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory.’ I am grateful for all that the game has personally done for me and for all it continues to do for strengthening our country.”

General Franks will be presented with the Gold Medal at The National Football Foundation’s 46th Annual Awards Dinner, December 9, 2003, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. The Awards Dinner is the highlight of the college football season and a tribute to the game of amateur football, at which the Foundation will honor special awardees, induct the 2003 College Football Hall of Fame Class, and award fifteen National Scholar-Athletes with over $300,000 in postgraduate scholarships.

HONOREE BIOGRAPHY

GENERAL TOMMY R. FRANKS (RET.)
2003 NFF Gold Medal Recipient
The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc.

Commissioned a second lieutenant in 1967, General Franks is a distinguished graduate of the Artillery Officer Candidate School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After an initial tour at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division, Republic of Vietnam, where he served as Forward Observer, Aerial Observer, and Assistant S-3 with 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery. He also served as Fire Support Officer with 5th Battalion (mechanized), 60th Infantry during this tour.

In 1968, General Franks returned to Fort Sill, where he commanded a cannon battery. In 1969, he was selected to participate in the Army's Degree Completion Program, and subsequently attended the University of Texas, Arlington, where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 1971. Following attendance at the Artillery Advance Course, he was assigned to the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment in West Germany in 1973 where he commanded 1st Squadron Howitzer Battery, and served as Squadron Operations Officer. He also commanded the 84th Armored Engineer Company, and served as Regimental Assistant Operations Franks during this tour.

After graduation from Armed Forces Staff College, General Franks was posted to the Pentagon in 1976 where he served as an Army inspector general in the Investigations Division. In 1977, he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff, Army where he served on the Congressional Activities Team, and then as an Executive Assistant.

In 1981, General Franks returned to West Germany where he commanded 2nd Battalion, 78th Field Artillery for three years. He returned to the United States in 1984 to attend the Army War College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania where he also completed graduate studies and received a Master of Science Degree in Public Administration at Shippensburg University. He was next assigned to Fort Hood Texas as III Corps Deputy Assistant Operations Officer, a position he held until 1987 when he assumed command of Division Artillery, First Cavalry Division. Franks also served as Chief of Staff, First Cavalry Division, later during this tour.

Franks initial general officer assignment was as Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver), First Cavalry Division during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. During 1991-92, he was assigned as Assistant Commandant of the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill. In 1992, he was assigned to Fort Monroe, Virginia as the first Director, Louisiana Maneuvers Task Force, Office of Chief of Staff of the Army, a position held until 1994 when he was reassigned to Korea as the Operations Officer of Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea.

From 1995 to 1997, General Franks commanded the Second Infantry (Warrior) Division, Korea. He assumed command of Third U.S. (“Patton’s Own”) in May 1997, a post he held until June 2000 when he was selected for promotion to four-star General and assignment as Commander in Chief, United States Central Command. Franks retired from service on August 1st, 2003.

General Franks’ awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (three awards); Distinguished Service Medal (two awards); Legion of Merit (four awards); Bronze Star Medal with "V" (three awards); Purple Heart (three awards); Air Medal with "V"; Army Commendation Medal with "V"; and a number of U.S. and foreign service awards. He wears the Army General Staff Identification Badge and the Aircraft Crewmember's Badge.

PAST GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

With 119 chapters and over 13,000 members nationwide, The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in America’s young people. NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., PLAY IT SMART, The NFF Center for Youth Development Through Sport at Springfield College (Mass.), the NFL-NFF Coaching Academy, and scholarships of nearly $1 million for College and High School Scholar-Athletes.