Education
Louisiana State University.
Louisiana State University.
A native of Haughton, Louisiana, he earned a degree in geology from Louisiana State University. In 1957, he founded the highly successful Franks Petroleum Incorporated. and later invested in real estate with Franks Realty Limited Liability Company. In 1989 he sold his petroleum company to Sonat Incorporated.
In 1976, Franks became involved in the horse racing business and would become a leading North American stable owner with a horse farm in Shreveport, Louisiana plus his own breeding operation in Ocala, Florida. Franks success in saw him become the leading owner at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Louisiana for eighteen consecutive years from 1982 through 1999.
Nationally, he earned the American Eclipse Award for Outstanding Owner in 1983, 1984, 1993, and 1994.
As at 2007, his four wins remain the most of any owner. In 1993 and 1994 he led all American owners in earnings from racing.
His other horses of note included Royal Anthem, Sharp Cat, Heatherten and Kissin Kris. In poor health, in 2002 the seventy-seven-year-old Franks undertook a liquidation of his horse racing and breeding operations.
He died on December 31, 2003 at the WK Pierremont Health Center in Shreveport, Louisiana.
In his memory, three racetracks have named races for him. In 1992, Franks was inducted into the Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame.