08/26/2026
The 2026 Induction Class Ceremony will be here soon.
This outstanding class will be officially inducted on October 1, during Franklin’s Applefest celebration. A reception will be held at Forever Farm at 275 Miller Road in Franklin, and tickets can be picked up at the chamber of commerce. The FHS Hall of Fame selection committee would like to thank all of those who submitted nominations, and it invites everyone in the community to join us at the fifteenth FHS Hall of Fame induction ceremony in the fall of 2026.
These four new inductees will bring the hall of fame to 71 members. The 2026 Class Includes:
Mr. Robert A. Brown, Class of ‘72, has been selected in the category of athletics for his dominating career on the wrestling mat.
Brown was a four-year letterman and wrestled under FHS Hall of Fame coaches Allan Shilling and Lou Slautterback. Brown finished second at sections as a sophomore and had an undefeated dual mat season with a 22-0 record as a junior. He was the section and district champion, along with a third-place finish at regionals.
He was undefeated again as a senior with a 23-0 record. He was again a section and district champion, and this time was runner-up to the eventual state champion. Back in his day, they only took the regional champ to the state tournament. He finished with an overall record of 68-13-2 at Franklin.
Bob also wrestled for the Erie All-Stars Wrestling Team. He would earn a spot in the Junior World Championships held in Rome, Italy.
He received a full scholarship to Peru State College in Nebraska. Brown was a two-time Nebraska State Collegiate Wrestling Champion and won three postseason college open tournaments. He competed in two national championships and concluded his career with an outstanding 44-3 record for the NAIA-level school.
Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth W. Keverline, USMC, retired, Class of ‘74, has been chosen for his exemplary career in the United States Marines.
After graduating from Grove City College, Keverline joined the Marine Corps and was drawn to a career in aviation. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant through the Platoon Leaders Class program. He earned his wings as a Naval Aviator and served as a Marine helicopter pilot during some of the most challenging operations of the post-Vietnam era. He was assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 162 and deployed twice to the Mediterranean, including combat operations in 100 combat missions, 39 of which were in direct combat, totaling over 300 combat flight hours under hostile fire. He was awarded the Strike Flight Air Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon.
Ken’s career later advanced to the highest levels of trust and responsibility in military aviation. He was selected to serve with Marine Helicopter Squadron One, flying President George H.W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle of the United States aboard Marine One and Marine Two. Ken served as the White House Aircraft Commander and, for two years, as the Officer-in-Charge of the presidential alert facility in Washington, D.C. He logged over 850 flight hours during his four years serving the president. He also flew cabinet members and other foreign dignitaries.
He served in other leadership roles before retiring from active duty in February 2000, with more than 5,000 accident-free flight hours. He was twice awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his outstanding leadership.
He transitioned to civilian life in South Carolina and was the chief pilot at the University of South Carolina. He served four USC presidents over 23 years, flying for the university.
Mr. J.J. Horne, Class of ‘01, is being enshrined for his outstanding athletic career at Franklin and beyond.
Horne was a three-sport standout and earned nine varsity letters in football, basketball, and track and field for Hall of Fame Coaches Fred Blackhurst, Bill Hager, and Rich Hancox.
Horne stood out on the gridiron and was a two-year two-way All-NWFC selection. He helped lead Franklin to the TCAC championship in 1999 and two straight playoff appearances. J.J. was the all-time leading receiver in school history when he graduated. Horne is already a member of the FHS Hall of Fame as the starting center on the 2001 State Champion Boys Basketball Team. Horne’s HOF athletic ability was on full display on the track. He still holds the District 10 Record in the 400-meter dash, with a 49.04 sprint in 2001. He still holds two school records, in the 400m and the 1600 relay. He was the District 10 track athlete of the year in 2001.
Horne would go on to the University of Pittsburgh on a football scholarship. He committed as a junior and was a four-year letterman at Pitt. He was the 2005 special teams MVP for the Panthers and led the team in sacks in 2004. Horne signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys.
Horne joined the military after graduation and, following his service, entered law enforcement. He is also a bodybuilder in the Dallas Area and has worked with and promoted Prime Fitness equipment, a company based out of Franklin.
The 2006 Boys Basketball Team has been selected for its athletic achievement.
They were the second team in school history to win the PIAA State Championship in boys hoops, defeating Communication Tech of Philadelphia at the Giant Center in Hershey, 74 - 63. The team finished with a 27-5 record under Head Coach Steve Shingledecker, a FHS Hall of Fame inductee. Shingledecker was named the Class AAA Coach of the Year.
The team finished the regular season with a 20-4 record and was runner-up in District 10 to General McLane. They would defeat McLane a few weeks later, 58-52, to reach the state finals.
Gary Shingledecker, also a FHS Hall of Famer, and Randy Holmes were the assistant coaches. The team was led by five senior starters: Nate Byham, Jude Urda, Bill Klinger, Bryan Crawford, and Josh Smith. Byham, another FHS Hall of Famer, and Urda were named to the All-State team that year. Corbin Henry and Jason Hudson rounded out the seniors. Juniors were Jason Grill, Josh Kahle, Jared Latchaw, Travis Lepley, Ben Ritter, and David Williams. Sophomores Ethan Gravatt, Drake Anderson, and Jack Villar rounded out the playoff roster.
Created in 2011, The Franklin Area High School Hall of Fame honors those individuals or groups whose actions or achievements in their chosen field bring honor and distinction to the heritage of the Franklin Area School District. The Hall of Fame honors the contributions and accomplishments of individuals or groups worthy of recognition as examples for others to emulate. The Hall of Fame recognizes and preserves individuals or groups, living and deceased. The hall's mission is to honor those who contributed significantly to academics, arts, sciences, humanity, community, athletics, vocations, technology, and business.
