John J. Franke Award 

Each year the American Council for Technology recognizes an individual who has made extraordinary long-term contributions to the Federal service through presentation of the John J. Franke Award.

The award honors the memory of John J. Franke, a former senior government official who was recognized as exemplifying the best of government service.  Mr. Franke was known for his commitment to the public good, his belief in the goodness and value of all people, and his support of partnerships and collaboration.  He served as an Assistant Secretary for Management in the Department of Agriculture under President Reagan, where he helped establish the National Finance Center.  He later became the first Director of the Federal Quality Institute before he succumbed to cancer in 1991.

John Franke is remembered by those who knew him and worked with him in these ways:

• He shared his victories with his staff
• He listed to employees and to customers
• He believed in the basic goodness of people, and valued every person no matter what their position in the organization. He made all employees feel important.
• He was a political appointee, who was on a first name basis with secretaries, mail clerks, guards, and janitors.
• He often said, "We'll make progress by using a little common sense and by getting people to talk to each other."