[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E52]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF HASSELL FRANKLIN

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                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 25, 2023

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
life of Hassell Franklin. Hassell passed away on Sunday, January 22, 
2023, at the age of 87. The northeast Mississippi native grew up on a 
farm and was a classmate of Elvis Presley in Tupelo. He served in the 
U.S. Army and commanded the company that protected James Meredith 
during the integration of the University of Mississippi. He later 
graduated from Mississippi State University, having earned an 
industrial engineering degree.
  Hassell was the founder and CEO of Franklin Corp., one of the largest 
privately owned furniture manufacturers in the nation, based out of 
Houston, Mississippi. The esteemed businessman began Franklin Corp. in 
1970, which has been supplying upholstered furniture worldwide for over 
50 years.
  He was also a philanthropist, establishing a $1 million endowment at 
Mississippi State University to build the Franklin Furniture Institute, 
a research and training center benefiting the furniture community. 
Hassell was recognized and honored as a Mississippi State Alumnus of 
the Year, as well as an Itawamba Community College Alumnus of the Year.
  During his career, Hassell was actively involved in the community, 
serving as a past president and board member of the CREATE Foundation, 
the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Regional Rehabilitation Center, 
United Way of Northeast Mississippi, and Sanctuary Hospice House. He 
served as lead director of BancorpSouth (now Candence Bank) as well as 
on the boards of the Mississippi Economic Council, North Mississippi 
Health Services, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Publishing 
Co., Journal Publishing Houston, Commission on the Future of Northeast 
Mississippi, Community Development Foundation, and Community Relations 
Association.

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