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General Tommy R. Franks Named 2010 Horatio Alger Award Winner
General to be Inducted April 2010 in Washington, D.C. for Overcoming Adversity

WASHINGTON, January 13, 2010 –The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans is pleased to announce that General Tommy R. Franks, Former Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Central Command, and Chairman, Franks & Associates will receive the 2010 Horatio Alger Award in recognition of his personal and professional success despite humble and challenging beginnings.

General Franks will be formally inducted into the association when he accepts the Horatio Alger Award on April 9, 2010 in Washington, D.C. Current and past recipients of the award have overcome great adversity to achieve admirable accomplishments, to serve as examples of achieving the American Dream, and to offer countless hours and resources to help others in need.

“We are delighted to induct these individuals into the Horatio Alger Association and to honor their stories of success in the face of significant struggle,” said David L. Sokol, president and CEO of the Horatio Alger Association. “We believe that adversity builds character, and General Franks’ story is no exception. Franks’ life story of strength, resolve and achievement is commendable, and he will help continue our mission of helping other young people achieve similar success.”

Tommy Ray Franks was born in 1945 in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, but he grew up in Texas. His father was a mechanic and his mother sold homemade cakes to help with expenses. Franks graduated in 1963 from Robert E. Lee High School in Midland, Texas, and attended the University of Texas at Austin, but dropped out after two years. He joined the Army and in 1967, as a distinguished graduate of the Artillery Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and sent to Vietnam.

When he returned to the United States in 1969, Franks enrolled in the Army’s Boot Strap Degree Completion Program, and subsequently attended the University of Texas at Arlington, where he graduated with a degree in business administration in 1971. After graduation, he was posted to the Pentagon and over the next 38 years he led a distinguished military career serving as Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command in 2000. During his tenure in this position, General Franks oversaw the U.S. Armed Forces operations in a 25-country region, including the Middle East. He was the U.S. general leading the attack on the Taliban in Afghanistan in response to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. General Franks also led the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, and was Commander in Chief of the American occupation forces.

General Franks’ awards include five Distinguished Service Medals, four Legions of Merit, four Bronze Stars and three Purple Hearts. He is a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. President George W. Bush awarded him the nation’s highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004.

General Franks will be honored among ten other remarkable individuals who will receive the 2010 award for their hard work, self-reliance and perseverance:

• Albert T. Annexstad, Chairman, Federated Insurance Companies
• William Alfred Cook, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Cook Group Incorporated
• Joseph M. “Jody” Grant, Partner and Senior Advisor, BankCap Partners, and Chairman Emeritus, Texas Capital Bank
• Jenard M. Gross, President, Gross Investments
• Lawrence Mead Higby, CEO (Retired), Vice Chairman and Advisor, Apria Healthcare Group Inc.
• Richard D. Holland, Philanthropist and Chairman (Retired), Rollheiser Holland Kahler Advertising
• Alan B. Miller, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Universal Health Services, Inc.
• Condoleezza Rice, Former Secretary of State, US Department of State, and Provost, Stanford University
• James M. Seneff Jr., Founder and CEO, CNL Financial Group, Inc.
• Earl W. Stafford Sr., Chief Executive Officer, The Wentworth Group LLC, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Stafford Foundation, Inc.

In addition, the 2010 Norman Vincent Peale Award will be presented to Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. The Norman Vincent Peale Award is annually conferred on an association member who has made exceptional humanitarian contributions to society, who has been an active participant in the association, and who continues to exhibit courage, tenacity and integrity in the face of great challenges. The award is named in honor of Dr. Peale, who was an outstanding leader of the association for more than 40 years. 

The 2010 members will receive their awards at the 2010 Horatio Alger Awards Induction Ceremonies April 8-10, 2010. Activities include three days of meetings and celebrations in some of the nation’s most historic buildings. The Horatio Alger National Scholars, remarkable high school seniors who have excelled despite adversity, also will  be formally honored during the three-day gathering.

A complete list of all of the Horatio Alger Members can be found at http://www.horatioalger.org/members.cfm.

About The Horatio Alger Association
Founded in 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans continues to fulfill its mission of honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals in our society who have succeeded in spite of adversity and of encouraging young people to pursue their dreams through higher education. The Horatio Alger Association offers three annual scholarship programs: the National Scholarship Program, state scholarship rpograms, and graduate grants. The association awards nearly $7 million annually in college scholarships and has given more than $70 million to deserving students since 1984. The association is a 2009 Combined Federal Campaign participant, ID# 77062. For more information, please visit www.horatioalger.org.

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