Ron Franklin Wiki

Ron Franklin is an American sportscaster. Back in 1987 to 2011 he was employed by ESPN. ESPN later on January 4, 2011, fired him after making sexist comments to a colleague.

Ron Franklin Biography and Career Life

Franklin brought a wrongful termination suit against his workmate, alleging breach of contract by ESPN. The two parties settled out of court.

Franklin grew up in Hazelhurst, Mississippi, United States. His mother allowed him to participate in sports in school as long as he would also take voice lessons. His family relocated to Oxford, Mississippi when he was at the age of 14. While in high school Ron suffered a head injury resulting in the formation of a blood clot that ended his football career making him ineligible for the military.

Around the same time, he got a job as a teen disc jockey, which got him interested in combining his interests in broadcasting and sports. While he a student at the University of Mississippi, Franklin worked the wake-up shift at a radio station and also attended classes during the day. He then returned to the station in the evening to work on commercials.

For further vocal training, Franklin performed in college theater. He is also an alumni member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Prior to ESPN, Franklin was basketball and also a football play-by-play commentator for the University of Texas from the year 1983 to 1988. He was the play-by-play voice of the Houston Oilers from the year 1977 to 1982.

He also worked as the sports director for four different local news stations namely KSWS in Roswell, New Mexico in 1965, KVOO in Tulsa, Oklahoma from 1967 to 1971, KHOU-TV including KPRC-TV, both in Houston, Texas from the year 1971 to 1980 and 1980 to 1987 respectively.

While at ESPN, Ron primarily worked as a play-by-play commentator for ESPN’s coverage of college basketball including college football. Back in 1987 to 2005, Ron anchored ESPN College Football Primetime primarily together with Mike Gottfried.

Later in 2006, he moved to ESPN2 College Football Primetime together with Ed Cunningham. The following year, in 2007, that crew moved to ESPN on ABC calling mainly Big 12 games. Back in college basketball, he was the primary ESPN play-by-play man together with Fran Fraschilla for Big 12 games.

The two are also called the NIT Championship. He then called the tennis French Open, college baseball, and the U.S. Olympic Festival. Franklin hosted in various years the Miss Texas USA Pageants. He then signed a contract extension with ESPN in the year 2006.

Ron Franklin Age

Franklin was born 2 February 1942, Jackson, Mississippi, United States.