Harry Gump Franklin was born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia. He has been married to the former Marian Ann Williams for more than 50 years, has two adult children and two grandchildren. He attended Tennessee State University graduating with a BS in Aeronautics in 1965. After working three years in Nashville, he moved to Detroit, in 1968, where he began work at Ford Motor Company, on June 10, 1968, as a graduate trainee Production Supervisor. He continued working there for 33 years retiring on June 1, 2001, as a Human Resources Manager. He is currently a member of Westminister Presbyterian Church of Detroit. He has served on the Board of Directors of the YMCA and is currently a member and founder of the Detroit Tennessee State University Alumni Association Foundation. He is a Life Member of LAHS Class of 1961, Tennessee State University Alumni Association and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He was Initiated in the Southfield Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity in 1988. Within the fraternity, he has served as Polemarch of the Southfield Alumni Chapter, Polemarch of the Northern Province (Michigan, Western New York & Northwestern Ohio) and a member of the Grand Board of Directors. He is also a charter member of the Southfield Kappa Foundation.