James Franklin:
CLASS OF 1973
Churchland High SchoolClass of 1973
Portsmouth, VA
Old Dominion University - PreMedClass of 1978
Norfolk, VA
Belmont Abbey CollegeClass of 1974
Belmont, NC
James's Story
After CHS grad 73,Went to Belmont Abbey college 73-74Worked as lifeguard at school Olympic pool and summer74,lifeguard on beach-chicks beach Oceanview city Norfolk[what a Summer girls hit me like a shark feeding frenzy, miss the 70s LOL]..Graduated pre-med from ODU in 1978 BSc, worked in ER at Portsmouth general nights and weekends and Summers. Before graduation,scored90% on MCAT. Student loans were available to Minorities only,most of my friends went to Med school in Grenada,78-80 worked FOP fundraising for all lodges in VA Interviewed and accepted into Naval aviation school,spoke to high-ranking military friends of my family had some specialized training w/ govt. and decided instead to take position in 1980 as an assistant to J. Herbert Simpson ,Communications Director for Portsmouth police and FEMA director district#3- Also Executive director AUSA and Va. Sports Hall of Fame. as a special agent for him,helped raise over10million for hallof fame and also worked with all branches of Military and Joint Chiefs of Staff on AUSA businesss.FEMA connection put me in a position of working with all local,state. emergency and Federal Law enforcement officials.I was invited to Governors Mansion by Chuck Robb himself,and still consider Senator Robb a friend,brother mason.. Left Virginia in 1986 I went to work for Front office Montreal Expos spring Training and minor league Public relations,Promotions,sales 86-88-Felipe Alou was mngr.Met Mickey Mantlle[I had lunch with him everyday m-f Feb.87.],Sandy Koufax Tommy Lasorda,Ray Knight,Tom Seaver,Bob Feller and many more MLB Hall of Famers. Became friends w Pete Rose and Gary Carter,who sadly"The Kid' taken by cancer2012Gary was a Hall of Fame person,selfless and charitable,humble and fun.. In July1987 married Lisa,in west Palm beach after proposing to her in Dec86 flying Goodyear Blimp ,and became stockbroker Oct 87-series#7.1988,89 workedP/T for Burt Reynolds on Detective series. Was,an extra and Bodyguard for Ted McGinley-Took him to PBIA to fly to LA for "Married w/Children" screen test-He became "Jefferson".[also met Richard Roundtree and Jimmy Smits].. Burt Reynolds hosted my 34th Birthday at his Backstage restuarant in Jupiter,he had waitress feed m...Expand for more
e King Crab claws . Alfie Wise ,Dom Deluise and,Ossie Davis[who marched w/Dr.King ] were there......Offered position as Asst. General Manager of Atlanta Braves by GM John Scherholtz in 89,and.Missed that golden opportunity because ex-wife did not want to move[and I listened]. Invited to taping of Win,Lose or Draw with Bert Convy in 91 at Reynolds Ranch before Lonnie divorced Burt had to sell it.t Her best friend,Lynda Carter"WONDER WOMAN" and I spoke for over an hour while her son same age as my daughter played ,Lynda was very nice and like Burt,treated me like family. I used to visit the ranch and talk to Burt sr. [He was the first Sheriff of PBCO ,and had been an adjutant General to General George S. Patton in WW2] They had a small petting zoo. Prop Gas station and Gator motel on the Ranch,You saw them if you watched Smokey and the Bandit2 Did charitable work for Boys and girls clubs and became friends w/Ted Hendricks,Jim Jensen and Danny Marino.Went to Marlins games w/ Ted,NFL hall of Famer-RaidersUM alum,and Dolphins games with Jimmy Jensen.. Was offered position as PR director for Marlins June92,before Commissioner Fay Vincent made rulingAug92 no more x- Expos personell could be hired. Dave Dombrowski,minor league ops and Frank Wren,scouting had already been hired[Dave is now President and GM of Tigers,Frank,GM of Orioles ,now Braves]. I worked for various brokerages and then started own Venture Capital firm in 1996.Divorced 2004 ,going thru that and 2 hurricanes when Aug 2004 reunion for CHS was going on.Have 2 daughters,one born in 87 is college senior getting BSc in Psychology, other daughter born 94,married Dec 2011,and baby girl born April 8 2013,so now am a Grampa........Doing consulting for private companies for stock only. I am also a volunteer for Citizencorps. and still work with the EOC and FEMA when we have a hurricane. Live in townhome on canal. go canoeing,swim in Olympic pool[about 1oo ft. from home] Enjoy largemouth bass fishing,Deepsea fishing ,snorkeling in ocean,biking , dating,dancing,movies music,attending pro Heat,Marlins and Dolphins games,boxing matches at Seminole Casino,,wieght train,boxing workout and member of fishing and social clubs.Veterans group advocate.
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