San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, center, and former U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke meet at a Franklin High event. (Photo by Jerry Johnsen)
On May 15, more than 150 Franklin High School alumni, family, staff, students, and former U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke gathered at the Mount Baker Community Club to induct five alumni into the Franklin Hall of Fame.
The new inductees are Katie Houlihan Dolan (’43), an advocate for children with disabilities; Felix Skowronek (’52), an internationally recognized flutist; Terry Deeny (’58), a national leader in the field of construction; Al Cohen (’61), a widely regarded educator; and Edwin Lee (’70), mayor of San Francisco and first Asian American to be elected mayor of a major American city.
Ed Lee and Gary Locke knew each other growing up in south Seattle and sang together in the Franklin Bel Canto Choir. When Lee was nominated, he asked that Locke introduce him.
In his introduction, Locke noted that Lee had never run for office — Lee’s career was one of community service, ultimately becoming the San Francisco city administrator. In 2011, when Mayor Gavin Newsom left, Lee was appointed interim mayor — and later was recruited to run for the position. It was, aside from running for senior class president at Franklin, the first time he had actually ever run for office.
The Hall of Fame was started in 1992 as part of Franklin High School’s 80th anniversary. Forty members have been inducted in the past 20 years, including community activists Bill Speidel, Victor Steinbrueck, and Jim and John Ellis; Nobel Prize winner George Kozmetsky; baseball greats Fred Hutchison and Ron Santo; and Governor/Ambassador Gary Locke. (end)