Franklin Elgin White

Franklin was born on April 6, 1941, in Kingston, Jamaica, W.I., to Winston and Hilda White. In 1953, a 12-year-old Franklin emigrated with his family to New York. He was raised in the Tremont section of the Bronx and graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School at age 16 in 1957. Franklin was a gifted student. After training as an accountant and an attorney, he became a prominent civil rights attorney and, later, held high-level administrator positions in federal, state, and local governments in different parts of the country.

In 1961, Franklin received his BBA, cum laude, in accounting and economics from The City College of New York (Baruch). While attending Baruch, Franklin met his wife of 60-years, Diane. In 1965, he received his J.D., cum laude, from Columbia University Law School. He began his career in public service as a civil rights attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and the New York City Human Rights Commission, where he served as General Counsel. Among his many major accomplishments in his early career as a civil rights attorney, Franklin drafted the briefs that led to the United States Supreme Court’s 1968 landmark decision in Green v. County School Board of New Kent County. In that case, the Court unanimously rejected New Kent County, Virginia’s “freedom of choice” plan that was devised to avoid compliance with Brown v. Board of Education.

In the mid-1970s, Franklin’s career focus shifted to public policy and administration. He served as Deputy Director of the New York State Division of the Budget during the administration of Governor Hugh Carey. In the late 1970s, he served on the White House Domestic Policy Staff as Associate Director for Justice during the Carter Administration.

Franklin excelled as an administrator in several high-profile positions during the 1980s and 90s, making a lasting impact. He served as the Secretary of Transportation and Public Safety for the Commonwealth of Virginia and, in 1985, was appointed to serve as Commissioner of Transportation for New York State by Governor Mario Cuomo. In a 1993 editorial, the Albany Times Union noted that Franklin was the longest-tenured and “most effective” transportation commissioner in the state’s history. Franklin served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) from 1993 to 1996, solidifying his reputation as a visionary leader in the transportation sector. Franklin headed the MTA during a period of extensive expansion and he administered a budget of over $2 billion annually to combat gridlock and improve air quality.

Among other honors and awards, Franklin was a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and received the “Distinguished Public Service Award” from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy.

Franklin was a loving husband to Diane and a devoted father and grandfather who was always there to offer guidance and love. Outside of the courtroom and the boardroom, he had many interests. Among others, he loved to play chess and he was an extremely enthusiastic tennis player for more than five decades (into his 80s). Franklin always enjoyed traveling to new places and, during retirement, he enjoyed ocean cruises (e.g., Alaska, Antarctica) with Diane and his sisters. He was active in his community and enjoyed the many activities available in a 55 + community.

Franklin is survived by his loving wife, Diane, his devoted sons Franklin Jr. (Karen), William (Lisa), and Andrew (Lisa), his siblings David, Dorothy, and Vivienne, his cherished grandchildren Trevor, Kaylin, and Sophia, and numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Winston and Hilda, and his siblings Daphne, Phyllis, and Albert.

May Franklin White rest in peace, leaving behind legacy of courage, compassion, and commitment to justice and family that will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.