Garland Franks

Garland Franks was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1965 Class A state basketball tournament. Two years in a row he was voted All-County, All-Area, All-Region and All-State.

When he was a first grader at DAR, the team played in the old log gym using a chalkboard to keep score because there was not enough money for a scoreboard. Little Garland would “buck dance” at games while people threw money. He would “buck dance” as long as they would continue pitching coins. According to his coach, John Kitchens, “That’s how they paid for the first electric scoreboard at DAR.”

A former U.S. Marine platoon sergeant, Garland came through Vietnam unharmed although his outfit was inflicted with heavy casualties. His basketball career resumed at Northwest Junior College followed by a grant-in-aid at Athens State.

Today, Sgt. Garland Franks serves as a canine officer at the Limestone Correctional Facility. The warden has praised Franks for “countless hours working with the dogs” and helping apprehend escapees and felons, along with finding lost children and elderly people. He has received special recognition for helping capture one of the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted. Currently, Franks speaks on prison life to church groups and does presentations for the state trooper tactical teams.

It has been said of the little “buck dancer” that he did not often lead the team in scoring or rebounding, but men who knew the game said his floor play was unexcelled in high school basketball. His coach John Kitchens says, “He was the best basketball player I ever coached.”