- Featured Alumni
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College will formally honor Monty Franks during the Outstanding Alumni Banquet on Saturday, Oct 21, at 11am in the Calcagno Family Ballroom.
Franks grew up in Miami, Oklahoma and graduated from Miami High School in 1967. He attended NEO from 1967 to 1969, and served as the equipment manager for various sports, including the 1967 and 1969 National Junior College Athletic Association National Champion Golden Norsemen Football teams.
Franks transferred to Northeastern State University and earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in junior college education. While at NSU, he served as a sportswriter and editor for the student newspaper and as a graduate assistant in the sports information department. He also wrote for the Tahlequah Pictorial Press newspaper.
After finishing his education at NSU, Franks served as a journalism instructor and student newspaper and yearbook advisor at Claremore Junior College. In 1974, Franks became the public information director, Norse Wind advisor and journalism instructor at NEO.
Franks was selected as the Outstanding Junior College Sports Information Director by the College Sports Information Directors Association in 1978 and 1979. His football media guides were selected best all-around by the NJCAA from 1977-1980. In 2004, he was inducted into the NJCAA Football Hall of Fame as a contributor.
After he retired from NEO in 2002, Franks continued to write articles on NEO Athletics for the Miami News-Record. He and his wife, Pamela, have five children and 12 grandchildren.
All alumni and friends of the college are invited to attend the banquet. Tickets are $25 and $15 (children 12 and under). Purchase tickets at the door or online. neo.edu/homecoming
NEO homecoming festivities will take place Oct 19 – 21.
For more information, please contact Interim Director of Alumni and Development Eric Iverson at eiverson@neo.edu.
