Captain Robert W. Franklin was born May 23, 1935, in Winthrop, Massachusetts. Following receipt of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey on June 25, 1957.

Captain Franklin's 20-year career included duty aboard four ships, an air facilities location party, a geodetic triangulation party, and the Louisiana low-water-line tides party; as command pilot of three different aerial photography missions, as Chief of Flight Operations in the Photogrammetry Division, as Chief of the Anchorage Field Office, and as Officer in Charge of the Miami Ship and Ocean Engineering Facility . His assignments at sea included duty as Executive Officer aboard PATTON, PEIRCE, SURVEYOR, and RESEARCHER and as Commanding Officer of the RESEARCHER from which he retired on July 1, 1977.

Captain Franklin received numerous commendations for performance of duty, including commendation from the Director, Coast and Geodetic Survey for his impressive record of accomplishment as Chief, Air Photo Mission, and for his work in the rescue of the survivors of an airplane crash in Alaska.

Awards bestowed upon Captain Franklin included the Karo Award for his work on the Louisiana low-water-line survey, the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal in recognition of his untiring efforts and outstanding ability as Officer in Charge of the Miami Ship and Ocean Engineering Facility, and a NOAA Unit Citation for the performance of his command of the NOAA Ship RESEARCHER.

He is survived by his mother, Irene Peterson Brooks, two brothers and one sister.

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NOAA Corps Bulletin, 3/1/1985