HONORING TONY FRANKS

On 2026-01-27, Representative Josh Harder (D-CA-9) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING TONY FRANKS" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment.

HONORING TONY FRANKS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 19 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 19 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E77] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING TONY FRANKS ______ HON. JOSH HARDER of california in the house of representatives Tuesday, January 27, 2026 Mr. HARDER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Tony Franks for his extraordinary leadership, historic achievements, and decades of service to student-athletes at St. Mary's High School in Stockton. A proud alumnus of St. Mary's, Coach Franks has devoted decades of service to the school that shaped him, returning as head football coach for twenty-seven seasons and building a program rooted in discipline, accountability, and character. His connection to the community spans generations, coaching at the same institution he once attended and later entrusting with the education of his own children. Throughout his tenure, Coach Franks established one of the most consistently successful high school football programs in California. His teams regularly competed at the highest levels of the sport, earning league titles, postseason victories, and regional recognition while maintaining a 75.5 percent winning percentage and recording only two losing seasons. Year after year, St. Mary's football became synonymous with preparation, resilience, and teamwork, reflecting a culture built not only on competitive success, but on developing young men into leaders on and off the field. That legacy reached a historic milestone when Coach Franks led the St. Mary's Rams to their first CIF State Football Championship, securing the first state football title for any high school team in the City of Stockton. The championship season was defined by perseverance and belief, as the Rams delivered a memorable playoff run that captured the pride of the entire community. In recognition of this achievement and his career-long impact, Coach Franks was named California State Coach of the Year, a rare distinction that reflects both excellence on the field and integrity beyond it. Mr. Speaker, Coach Tony Franks embodies the highest ideals of high school athletics. His legacy is measured not only in victories, but in the lives he has shaped, the culture he has built, and the pride he has brought to St. Mary's High School and the City of Stockton. I am proud to recognize his lasting contributions to our community. ____________________