ATLANTA – Richard R. (Dick) Franklin, who passed away on September 11, 2005 , was one of the most dedicated members of the Georgia State Golf Association’s volunteer corps. He was president of the Georgia State Golf Foundation and a member of the Executive Committee at the time of his death.
His being posthumously named the recipient of the 2006 Bill Todd Award, the highest honor accorded to a GSGA volunteer, at the recent Annual Meeting of the Association is sadly ironic. His dedication and activity made him candidate for the award on several occasions in past years.
Franklin’s brother, Steve Franklin, business associate John Mapp and longtime friend and golfing partner Mike Chambless were in attendance at Cherokee Town Club in Atlanta on January 21, 2006, to accept the Todd Award on his behalf.
"The GSGA family has lost one of its most passionate and dedicated members," said GSGA president Glenn Cornell and chair of the Bill Todd Award Committee. "He loved the game of golf and loved both of the organizations to which he gave so much of his time and resources. He will be missed in so many ways."
Franklin was in his second year as president of the Foundation, the charitable affiliate of the GSGA. He spearheaded many fund raising efforts, and his personal appeal to the professional staffs of GSGA Member Clubs helped to more than double the interest in the Yates Scholarship program by staff members at those clubs. Last year, he and his brother Steve also established an endowed scholarship for the Yates Scholarship program in the name of their late father, Wilson P. Franklin.
He was a dedicated member of the GSGA’s Championship, Finance and Nominating Committees, chaired the Site Committee and was vice-chair of the Players’ Advisory Committee. His service on the Executive Committee included two different terms and he had been a member of the GSGA Board of Directors since 1990.
Franklin was a 1967 graduate of Dykes High School in Atlanta and a 1972 graduate of Emory University . He was a member of the Cherokee Town and Country Club in Atlanta , the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California and the Society of Seniors, a national organization of senior amateur golfers. He also served on the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship Committee.
Franklin and Todd served together on the Executive and Championship committees. It was Todd who was among those who encouraged Franklin ‘s involvement in the Foundation.
The Bill Todd Award is named in honor of one of the GSGA’s most valued volunteers who spent more than 20 years serving the Association. The annual presentation of this award honors Todd’s memory and recognizes an individual who exemplifies his volunteer spirit and involvement.
GSGA volunteers nominate individuals for the award, and the winner is chosen from among the nominees by the Bill Todd Award Committee.
Past Bill Todd Award Recipients
From 1993-2000, this award was called the President’s Service Award and was given at the discretion of the GSGA president. Upon the creation of The Bill Todd Award following his passing in 2001, it was deemed that all former winners of the President’s Service Award would also be known as winners of The Bill Todd Award. The winner is now chosen each year by a committee that includes all of the past recipients and other volunteers from each area of GSGA service. Nominations for the award may be submitted by any GSGA volunteer.
1993 – Billy Peters, Blakely
1996 – Col. F. "Ike" Fenton, Peachtree City
1998 – Bill Todd, Marietta
2000 – Gene McClure, Atlanta
2002 – Nancy Henning, Roswell
2003 – Roger Cordes, Decatur
2004 – Adrian C. McManus, Jr., Athens
2005 – Bob Henning, Roswell
2006 – Richard R. (Dick) Franklin, Dunwoody
Contact:
Joanna S. Capo
(770) 356-8960
jcapo@gsga.org
