(Updated from the first printing October 25, 2015)
James Franklin Runnels has lived in the Bexar and Medina County areas all of his life. He turned 84 on October er 25, and it seems fitting to once again recognize this interesting and accomplished fellow! Franklin grew up in South San Antonio, Texas, a town not unlike Devine at the time but eventually incorporated into the greater San Antonio city limits. He graduated from South San High School in 1956, following a remarkable high school basketball career. Famed sports writer Bob Dale of the San Antonio Express News wrote, “This 5’9” South San Antonio Speedster makes up in speed what he lacks in height!” Franklin scored 478 points in 26 games his senior year, scoring 30 points against Alamo Heights and 29 points in his final game — without a 3-point line! He helped take the team to Region 4 Tournament three years in a row, achieved All-District 29AA, and made the Class AA All-State team his senior year.
Franklin comes from a family of educators. His mother, Jenny McMurrey Runnels, taught 2nd and 3rd grades for some 41 years, mostly in the South San ISD, where she had attended school. Frank C. Runnels was an outstanding high school (Henderson ISD) and college basketball player (Stephen F. Austin, 1932) and came to South San to establish their athletic program in 1935. After several years of success there, where he established the South San Invitational Tournament — the oldest running basketball tournament in the state — he moved to SAISD where he coached at Lanier High School, leading the Voks to four state tournament appearances (1946-51) and subsequently inducted into the Lanier High School Hall of Fame. Following his coaching career, Frank C. Runnels spent many years as a basketball official and served his last 16 years in education as Principal at Rhodes Junior High, retiring in 1976.
Like father; like son. Following high school, Franklin played ball at East Texas Baptist College, SAC, and Sul Ross College, graduating in 1960 after which time he began his teaching/coaching career in the San Antonio ISD. He first taught then coached at Whittier Junior High — where he claims he made his fondest memories — taking his Whittier Hawks to Dist. Champs in 1966. In the fall of ‘65, a well-known Medina County educator and long-time friend, Walter Stein (d. 2020), did his student teaching under Franklin. Walter shared, “Franklin is the most honest, sincere human being I have ever met. He tells it like it is, good or bad, and I respect him for that. He’s a learned educator and he understands kids.”
In 1966, Franklin was hired to coach at Fox Tech High School in the SAISD. He remained with the Buffalos for six years, taking the team to Bi-District Camps, 1972, and Bi-District Champs/Regional Finalists in 1973. His assistant coach there and close friend, Al Saldana, said this about working with Franklin: “My years at Fox Tech were among the best in my life…punctuated by awesome coaching success. We built a ‘helluva’ basketball program…and we were willing to play any good program on the map! I know Frank could come out of retirement tomorrow and coach just as effectively as he did in the last century!”
From Fox Tech, Franklin took the job as head basketball coach of the Rams at John Marshall High School in the Northside ISD. There, he took his teams to District Champs, 1977, and Bi-District Champs/Regional Finalists, 1978. That year he was also named High School Coach of the Year by the San Antonio Express News. Retired South San ISD Athletic Director, Alan Rheaume, who did his student teaching at Marshall under Coach Runnels and became his assistant there, and who subsequently hired him to work part-time for the athletic department at South San ISD, had this to stay: “Throughout my career, Frank has been the one I went to for advice. He was my mentor, and I respected his perspective.” Another testimonial, this from a former Marshall player, Tommy Nance, businessman in Cuero, said, “Frank was a great coach with a great winning record, but he was an even better role model and friend. Frank planted seeds in my life about Jesus and the principle of tithing that took roots in my life years later. Frank has touched thousands of young men’s lives in his career, and each one is better to have known him. I know I am a better person because of Frank.”
Despite the demands of coaching, Franklin always held a second and third job — albeit during the off seasons. One fortuitous decision he made in college was getting his Driver’s Ed teaching certification; hence, he taught Driver’s Ed all over South Texas — first in private schools, then in public schools — for over 30 years. He also worked for several years for Region 20, teaching bus driving certification in towns and districts from Poteet to Kerrville to East Central to Uvalde to Laredo! As a result, everywhere he goes, he is likely to encounter a former driver’s ed or bus driving student. And, one more school-related job Franklin held was basketball officiating, which he did before and again following his coaching career. But, alongside other odd jobs, Franklin always had a passion for running cattle, and, from shortly out of college, he began purchasing livestock.
Franklin and Kathleene Van Treese married in August of 1963, and in 1966, they built their home in the Von Ormy area, near Somerset. This is where they raised their children, Vance Franklin (1968) and Vanessa Francine (1971), and they remained there for their next 34 years.
Eventually, with a desire to have more time to spend with family and to expand his cattle operation, Franklin decided to leave coaching while he was still “on top.” So, he made a complete career change in 1979 and went to work for a booming real estate company in San Antonio’s growing Great Northwest. He enjoyed several years of success in that field, but education was in his blood, so he accepted a position as Transportation Director at Southwest ISD and later became high school principal there. However, not finding administration to be his niche, after three years as Principal at Southwest High School, Franklin went back into the classroom at South San High School where he finished out his career, retiring in 2001 after serving 38 years in education. But, as an avid sports enthusiast, Franklin continued to work part-time for the SSISD Athletic Dept for several more years.
Franklin and Kathleene have been members of Devine FBC since 1981 where he is a deacon and served for many years as Director of the Senior Adult Dept; for the sixteen years prior, they attended Somerset FBC where he was ordained as deacon and where their children were baptized. Although they lived near Somerset, because Kathleene taught school at DHS, the children attended school in Devine. Vance graduated in ‘87; Vanessa, ‘89. Then, after the children had established their families — Vance in Medina County in the Hondo area and Vanessa in Archer County in North Texas — Franklin and Kathleene began looking for more property and to relocate in a less-populated area. They found their opportunity and purchased ranch land near Vance’s family in Medina County and moved in 2000.
Today, the Runnels have been in their second home since 2001, and Franklin delights in the pleasures retirement affords. He often lunches with old friends, many of them dating back as far as grade school; others hailing back to his coaching days. But, on most days, one can find Franklin checking cows with his newest dog-partner, Harley. (One may recall his faithful lamb, Augie, who passed away a few years ago.)
In addition to the cattle operation he runs with his son Vance, Franklin finds his greatest pleasures in being involved with his grandchildren and their activities. When not able to be present in person, he is definitely there in spirit. Vance has four children: Linay, Heath, Keldon, and Ally. Linay (Runnels) Williams and her husband, Brazos, and their 11-month-old son, Flint (the first great-grandchild), live in Lubbock. Heath Runnels, after playing football for Hardin Simmons University his first year out of high school, eventually chose the Marines, and he is serving as an embassy guard in Kazakhstan. Keldon Runnels is in his first year at the University of Texas at Tyler where he is on the track team — high jump being his specialty. Ally Shudde Runnels is a sophomore at Hondo ISD where she is currently on the tennis team.
Vanessa Runnels Parkey has three children: Victoria, Isabelle, and Whit. Victoria is attending college at Tarleton University. Isabelle is an eight-grader in the Archer City ISD where she is a cheerleader and is active in volleyball, basketball, and softball. Whit is a sixth-grader and is soon to be involved in sports. But, all year long, Ally, Isabelle, and Whit are actively involved in livestock showing, as were their older siblings, showing both steers and heifers all over the state and sometimes beyond!
With so many family and children activities to keep him entertained, Franklin has a lot more of life to enjoy, and, with 84 years behind him, a wealth of wisdom to impart!