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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 60
BY REPRESENTATIVE JEFFERSON
A RESOLUTION
To recognize Friday, September 6, 2013, as Alton "Red" Franklin Day in the state of
Louisiana.
WHEREAS, Coach Alton "Red" Franklin served as head football coach at
Haynesville High School for thirty-five great seasons; and
WHEREAS, Alton "Red" Franklin was the youngest of five children born to Mr. and
Mrs. W. H. Franklin of Centreville, Alabama; and
WHEREAS, Coach Franklin attended Bibb County High School, where he was an
outstanding athlete, lettering each year of his high school career in football, basketball, and
baseball; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from high school, Coach Franklin received a football
scholarship to attend the University of Alabama, and he later transferred to Louisiana
College in Pineville, where he played football for the Wildcat team; and
WHEREAS, after earning his bachelor's degree from Louisiana College, Coach
Franklin pursued his master's degree at Mississippi College, and he later earned a plus thirty
from Louisiana Tech University; and
WHEREAS, Coach Franklin met his wife of fifty years, Beth Langford, when he was
a student at Louisiana College, and Mr. and Mrs. Franklin are the parents of three sons, Jeff,
David, and Tommy, all of whom played football under the coaching direction of their father;
and
WHEREAS, Coach and Mrs. Franklin are also the proud grandparents of seven
grandchildren, Macy, Caroline, Erin, Trent, Toby, Hayden, and Blake; and
WHEREAS, Coach Franklin began his career in Marksville in 1961, where he
coached with the late Warren Douglas, and in 1963 he moved to Springhill High School,
where he coached for three years with the late Travis Farrar; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 60
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WHEREAS, in 1967, Coach Franklin became an assistant to Coach M.D. Ray in
Haynesville, where he was later promoted to head coach of the Golden Tornado, a position
he occupied for the next thirty-five seasons; and
WHEREAS, Coach Franklin was the president of the Louisiana High School
Coaches Association from 1976 until 1977, served as coach for the Louisiana All-Star
Football Team for ten years and as coordinator for two years, served as a member of the
board of the Louisiana High School Coaches Association executive committee and the
National Federation of High School Rules Committee, and served on the Louisiana Football
Coaches Association executive committee; and
WHEREAS, in thirty-five seasons under the outstanding leadership of Coach
Franklin, Haynesville High played a total of four hundred fifty games, with three hundred
sixty-six wins, eight ties, and only seventy-six losses; and
WHEREAS, this remarkable record has merited Coach Franklin an enviable
distinction, putting him in second place for Louisiana's best all-time, all-class, head coaching
record; and
WHEREAS, thanks in large part to Coach Franklin, Haynesville High School's
program is the second most winning in Louisiana and the twenty-seventh most winning in
the nation, including eight state runoffs and fifteen state championships in 1923, 1936, 1970,
1971, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993-1996, 2000, and 2009; and
WHEREAS, Coach Franklin has been recognized with numerous awards and honors
throughout his extraordinary career, including District Coach of the Year for twenty-three
years, State Coach of the Year for six years, and Region Five Coach of the Year in 1985 and
1993; he was elected to the LHSCA/LHSAA Hall of Fame in 1991, the Louisiana College
Hall of Fame, and the North Louisiana Chapter of the National Football Foundation Hall of
Fame; he was elected Sportsman of the Year for Northwest Louisiana in 1996, and he
received the Lion's Club Thirty Year Appreciation and Achievement Award as coach and
Christian role model to youth; and
WHEREAS, in 2004, Coach Franklin was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall
of Fame; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 60
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WHEREAS, on July 10, 2010, Coach Franklin received the high honor of being
inducted into the National Federation of State High School Associations Hall of Fame Class
of 2010; and
WHEREAS, Coach Franklin is an active member of First Baptist Church in
Haynesville where he has served as deacon since 1969; and
WHEREAS, Coach Franklin still serves as an assistant coach to his son, David
Franklin at Haynesville High; and
WHEREAS, on Friday, September 6, 2013, the Claiborne Parish School Board will
rename the Haynesville High School Memorial Stadium to Red Franklin-Memorial Stadium
in honor of Coach Franklin's many contributions to the football program at Haynesville High
School; and
WHEREAS, the House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana wishes to
recognize Coach Franklin for his manifold contributions and service to the youth of his
community and the state of Louisiana and to record his many accomplishments during the
course of his outstanding career.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize Friday, September 6, 2013, as Alton "Red"
Franklin Day in Louisiana, does hereby commend and congratulate Coach Franklin upon his
outstanding record as head coach of Haynesville High School during thirty-five years of
distinguished leadership, does hereby recognize and record his many contributions to the
community and the state as a dedicated educator and role model, and does extend best
wishes to this legendary Louisiana coach in all of his future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to Coach Alton "Red" Franklin, head football coach at Haynesville High School from 1967
until 2002 and that one suitable copy be placed at the Red Franklin-Memorial Stadium.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES