THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 26, 1996 TAG: 9606250099
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 59 lines
Charles Franklin will tell you in a minute how much he's enjoying his retirement, but in the next minute he'll tell you how great his 20 years in the Navy were, especially once he broke free of the stewards' ranks and made a rate that got him involved in aviation. ``Oh, man, yeah,'' he'll tell you, ``the Navy was very good to me.''
His fascination with the Blue Angels precision-flight team goes way, way back, to the days of his tours of the Pacific in the late 1950s on the carrier Hornet.
Franklin is a living trove of Blue Angels lore - he can recite in a split second what years they changed planes or upgraded their engines. ``There is nothing in the world,'' he'll tell you, ``like the sound of that old F4J Phantom. It had two J79 engines and when they kicked in, I'll tell you, they made a lot of noise.'' They'd get your attention.
Much as he likes his leisure time, there's one more duty call that would get him back into bell bottoms in a heartbeat: a chance to fly with the Blue Angels.
``Yes,'' he said, ``I still hope to take a ride with them someday. I surely would love to do that.''
Full name: Charles Lee Franklin Sr.
Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn.
Birthdate: April 22, 1934.
Occupation: Retired as an aviation hydraulics specialist from the U.S. Navy, retired again after a second career with the Naval Supply Center.
Marital Status: Single (widower).
Children: Three: Larry, 42; Charles Jr., 34; Karen, 32.
What is your idea of a perfect day off? Any day with no work - I enjoy my leisure time.
Last smart thing you did: Retired.
Last dumb thing you did: Not retiring earlier.
Favorite meal: Turkey, fruit and vegetables.
Favorite song: Any spirituals and gospel songs.
Favorite movies: ``Top Gun'' and any other naval aviation movies.
Last book read: ``Kareem,'' the life story of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Hobbies: Collecting U.S. Navy Blue Angels memorabilia.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I'd grow taller.
Favorite restaurant: Any cafeteria-style restaurant.
Your favorite night on the town: None - I'm living much different now.
Favorite TV shows: ``Matlock'' and ``Perry Mason.''
Favorite sport: Football.
Last vacation: Went home to Knoxville in 1993, the year I retired. I'm on permanent vacation now.
Pets: None. My dog passed away.
Worst job: Can't recall. I didn't have too many bad ones.
What achievements are you most proud of? I saw a lot of the world with the Navy, I worked in the civilian community, and retired with good health.
What would you like on your epitaph? I tried to help somebody as I traveled along this way. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Charles Franklin by CNB