'I didn't expect it': K-99's Big Frank to be inducted in Texas Radio Hall of Fame

At 50, radio personality Frank "Big Frank" Edwards Franklin said he's nowhere near slowing down.

"I'm not ending anytime soon," Franklin said in a phone call. "I have a daughter that just started kindergarten, so I'm going to keep on keeping on. I'm a young 50 and have no plans of retiring in the near future."

Listeners of K-99 Country might better know Franklin as Big Frank when he's on air early in the morning from 5 to 10 a.m.

Franklin is the latest Corpus Christi radio personality to be inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. It is the second time he has been nominated.

The induction ceremony will be on Saturday, Nov. 2 in Kilgore.

"I didn't expect it," Franklin said. "It wasn't a goal of mine. But like my late friend Jim Lago told me when he was inducted in 2016, it has been overwhelming. I started reflecting on my career and wondered if I was worthy of this."

Starting off in Kingsville with high school football, Franklin dipped his toes into radio in the fall of 1994. He then worked at a former radio station in Corpus Christi, with his first day being on his 22nd birthday in 1996.

Franklin joined K-99 in January 2000 and has been with the radio station ever since.

He said with radio, newspaper and television, it's all about "communication and information." Franklin said for those passionate about the media world, to take the necessary steps to follow said passion.

"In your career, there's a certain amount of joy you receive from it," Franklin said. "There's some other stuff you have to learn to tolerate. As long as that joy outweighs the tolerance, do it. Just remember, you have to be passionate and dedicated."

Aside from thanking the Texas Radio Hall of Fame, Franklin said he's thankful to his listeners.

"I know not everyone is locked in for the entire amount of time I'm on air, but they're there listening," Franklin said. "I'm so appreciative to them. I'm glad to do what I'm doing. I'll never be able to say 'thank you' to them enough."

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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or X @johnpoliva .

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: 'I didn't expect it': K-99's Big Frank to be inducted in Texas Radio Hall of Fame