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Wayne T. Franke
1989 Distinguished Alumnus |
A star on the Texas business scene will shine during 1989 Homecoming festivities
Saturday, October 14. Named one of the ten "Rising Stars of Texas" by Texas Business magazine in 1988, Wayne T. Franke, a 1972 graduate of Angelo State University and Director of Government Affairs for GTE Southwest in Austin, will be honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Angelo State University's Ex-Students Association. He will be a featured guest, along with the Retired Faculty Member of the Year, at the annual Ex-Students Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. in the Houston Harte University Center Ballroom, and he will be recognized at halftime of the Angelo State - Abilene Christian University football game that night.
Franke, born June 23, 1950, the son of Bernard and Henrietta Franke, is a native San Angeloan. He graduated from Central High School in 1968 and ASU in 1972 with a B.B.A. in general business. While in college, he was sophomore and junior class presidents, a cheerleader for three years, a traffic court judge, and president of the Program Council. He was active in the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, serving as vice president, and was chairman of the Interfraternity Council. Also, he worked four years as an administrative clerk with GTE in San Angelo.
Upon graduation, Franke continued his career with GTE Southwest. From 1972-75, he was a communications consultant in Irving. He was transferred to San Angelo in 1975 as an Assistant Manager of Government Affairs. In 1979, he was named Manager of Government Affairs with GTE and moved to Austin. In 1986, he was promoted to Director of Government Affairs.
Active in civic affairs, Franke was a loaned executive for the Tarrant County United Way and a section leader for the Tom Green County United Way. While in San Angelo, he was a Chamber of Commerce ambassador and a member of the Concho Cadre. As a member of the West Texas Chamber of Commerce, he was on the state affairs committee from 1977 to 1987 and served as vice chairman of the national affairs committee during 1987-88. In addition, Wayne was on the legislative advisory council of the Texas State Chamber of Commerce in 1986-87. He also was a fund-raiser for the Boy Scouts of America in Austin.
Franke was president of the Optimist Club in Irving and was on the board of directors of the Down-town Optimist Club in San Angelo. During 1978-79, he was Lt. Governor of the North Texas District of Optimist International. He is presently a member of the Austin Jaycees.
As a member of the Texas Industrial Development Council, he has served on the legislative committee from 1981 to 1983. Currently, he is on the statewide state affairs committee of the Texas Association of Business and is on the board of directors for the Austin chapter.
Also, Franke was on the board of directors of the Texas Association of Compensation Consumers in 1988 and has been a member of the state affairs committee of the Texas Association of Taxpayers since 1985.
As a participant of the John Ben Shepperd Leadership Forum from 1985 to 1987, Wayne Franke was program chairman in Odessa during 1986 and chairman in Austin during 1987. He was also chairman of the 1988 John Ben Shepperd Alumni Forum held in Austin.
In 1974, Franke was the first place winner nationwide of the Executone Sales Contest and was named Salesman of the Year for GTE Southwest. He was selected "Ambassador of the Year" for the Lewisville Chamber of Commerce in 1975 and for the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce in 1976.
In April 1987, he was a member of U.S. Speaker Jim Wright's congressional delegation to Moscow, USSR. GTE Corporation named Franke "Lobbyist of the Year" for 1987, and Marquis Who's Who nominated him to Who's Who in the South and Southwest, 1988-89.
Franke married Jane Pscheid June 22, 1985, and they have one daughter, Mauri Jane.
As profiled in the 1989 Fall Alumni Magazine.
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