Southeast Award Professionals

Liberty Supply Orlando

I am so gratetful to have had the oppurtunity to have known Tom and him being a part of our team at Liberty.  2008 for our Holiday employee get together was especially wonderful because I decided to take the group to the Ringling Circus, and Tom ejoyed it so much, even though it was very tiring for him. The remarkable trail he has laid up and down the East coast is admirable and the most respected man I've ever known.  Liberty gave him a sales mission one time to get rid of a particular stock item and in one month all mine was gone.  That"s Tom, a real salesman.....

I just give thanks for the chance to have watched a true professional at work and a true gentleman.

I will miss him so very much,

Jan Lane

Our Memories of Tom Franklin

I will always have fond memories of Tom. Without a doubt he was someone that truly loved what he did, loved the people he interacted with and loved the industry as a whole. I first met Tom when I was working at Brown’s Trophies in Tampa and he showed up with his “traveling engraver show”. That was back in the mid-late seventies. I was only an employee but I remember him being just as cordial and friendly as if I owned the place. I also remember his excitement over this industry changing piece of equipment…the computerized engraver.

Years later when he first showed up at my own store, he remembered that I worked for Browns. As the years went by I was honored to be considered one of his countless friends. He was always up for a friendly ribbing when by good chance my Florida State Seminoles would beat his Miami Hurricanes. But when his team was victorious he was the consummate gracious winner…always giving credit to the other team for their effort.

My trips to Vegas were never complete without a stop by the Tower booth to speak to Tom. He was one that I would always seek out just to say hello. He always made you feel good and forget whatever was troubling you when you spoke with him. He would have nothing but positive things to say about others. He never considered that he had competition because he respected all of the companies that sold competing products. It would not be unusual for him to recommend someone else’s goods for a particular need.

Tom Franklin was one of a kind in this business. He will be missed by everyone that had the good fortune to know him.

Sam Varn

Awards4U

We always looked forward to Tom’s visits. He never pressured to sell, He was excited about new products and technology. I remember Tom parking at our back door with the latest computer engraver set up in the back of his van and doing a demo of all its neat features. He had many stories and experiences in our world of trophies. I will always remember the one he told about the trophy dealer that made columns out of toilet paper cores. (true story). Tom was truly a “gentleman’s gentleman” .  Of all the memories I have of Tom Franklin, “this is the most recent”!.

We miss you Tom, and know you are in Good Company, eternally.

MaryLee and Floyd Hershberger

Floyd Hershberger, CRM

Pres. Hershberger Enterprises, Inc.

(dba) B-J Trophies, Awards & Gifts

If not for Tom, we would have never been introduced to the engraving industry.  26 years ago, Tom asked if we would be interested in training people how to use H-Square computerized engraving systems. In the early days, I would ask people that we were training why they choose H-Square and most of them said because Tom said so.  As everyone knows, he truly loved what he was doing, the industry and mostly the people he served.  He used to say that all you had to do was do what you said you would and everything else would take care of itself.  We have tried to follow his example and have been very blessed ever since. We now have hundreds of customers and good friends that we would have never known without knowing Tom.  Everyone at Engraving Systems Support is truly grateful to Tom for his friendship, kindness and Gentleman ways.

Buddy Jones

Engraving System Support