1. Julius Franks was the first African-American University of Michigan player to become an All-American in football.
14 Facts About Julius Franks
1. 2.
Julius Franks became an active community leader who contributed his time to public service and who helped to integrate Grand Rapids, Michigan by financing home construction in a majority Caucasian neighborhood.
3.
Julius Franks was born in Macon, Georgia and raised in Hamtramck, Michigan.
4.
Julius Franks was named to the Detroit, Michigan, all-city team after the 1939 high school football season.
5.
Julius Franks is described as the second to be All-American by some accounts.
6.
Head coach Fritz Crisler said Julius Franks was one of the hardest-working players he ever coached.
7.
Julius Franks credited the group's success to scrimmaging as rookies against the 1940 offense that included Tom Harmon, Forest Evashevski, and Bob Westfall.
8.
Julius Franks was played all 60 minute in his games as a junior in 1942 and was named a first-team All American by the International News Service, Central Press, and Collier's Weekly, and a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and New York Sun.
9.
Julius Franks recalled that head coach Fritz Crisler was a regular visitor to his hospital room, and team star Tom Harmon stopped to visit while on leave from military service.
10.
Julius Franks obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in 1947.
11.
In 1982, Julius Franks was named to the University of Michigan Hall of Honor in the fifth class of inductees that was inducted in 1983.
12.
Julius Franks was the twelfth Michigan football player to earn this honor.
13.
Julius Franks was a leader in the Urban League, United Way, American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, and Rotary Club.
14.
In later years, Julius Franks was a leader with the Urban League, United Way and other groups.