Distinguished Alumni
Thomas J. Frank
Awarded 2009
Starting his career as a teenager with Conn’s Appliances in 1957, Tommy Frank worked his way from delivery truck helper to chief executive officer and chairman of the corporation during his tenure there.
After more than 50 years of service he retired on June 2, 2009 as Chairman of the Board and CEO.
A 1963 SHSU graduate with a bachelor’s degree in industrial arts, Frank, who worked alongside C.W. Conn, Jr., played an instrumental role in growing the Beaumont appliance store into a major regional chain.
Along the way to his rise to the top, he held key positions in all areas of the organization, including distribution, service, credit, information technology, accounting, and general operations. He became a member of the board of directors in 1980.
In 1994 he was named CEO. He created and implemented a strategic plan that nearly tripled the number of stores, led to the company going public, and resulted in an annual revenue growth rate.
During his tenure, the company grew from 15 employees when he was first employed to a $700 million company with 56 stores in Texas and 2,800 employees that averaged 17 percent growth and 22 percent earnings.
Frank completed the Small Company Management Program at Harvard University and was the recipient of a graduate teaching fellowship from Texas A&M University.