CITY OF FRESNO
Office of Council President Mike Karbassi
WHEREAS, Derek Franks is a respected Fresno business and community leader who spent 22 years helping shape the success of the Fresno Grizzlies and the continued vitality of Chukchansi Park; and
WHEREAS, a native of Kingsburg, California, Derek Franks attended Reedley College and graduated from California State University, Fresno before beginning his career with the Fresno Grizzlies as an intern in 2004 and rising to serve as President and General Manager; and
WHEREAS, throughout his tenure, Derek Franks helped guide the Fresno Grizzlies through multiple ownership transitions while building the organization into one of the most innovative and community-connected franchises in Minor League Baseball; and
WHEREAS, working in partnership with the City of Fresno, Derek Franks played a key role in more than $15 million in capital improvements to Chukchansi Park, including Fresno Social, the Splash Park, a new videoboard, renovated clubhouses, and new batting cages that helped ensure the ballpark remains a vibrant civic asset for the community; and
WHEREAS, under his leadership the Fresno Grizzlies achieved notable recognition, including the 2015 Triple-A National Championship, the 2015 Pacific Coast League Executive of the Year honor awarded to Derek Franks, and the 2017 Bob Freitas Award from Baseball Ameri ca recognizing the top overall operation in Minor League Baseball; and
WHEREAS, Derek Franks and the Grizzlies became nationally recognized for innovation in Minor League Baseball promotions with the introduction of the Fresno Tacos alter ego identity in 2015, a concept that gained national attention and inspired similar alternate identities across the sport; and
WHEREAS, throughout his career Derek Franks strengthened connections between the Grizzlies and the Fresno community by supporting charitable partnerships, hosting major events at Chukchansi Park, and contributing to the economic and cultural vitality of downtown Fresno.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, Mayor Jerry Dyer and the Fresno City Council, hereby proclaim March 19th as
“Derek Franks Day”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and
affixed the seal of the City of Fresno, California, this 19 th
day of March 2026.
_____________________________________________ __________________________________________ JERRY DYER, Honorable Mayor MIKE KARBASSI, Council President
_____________________________________________ __________________________________________ NELSON ESPARZA, Council Vice President ANNALISA PEREA, Councilmember District 1
_____________________________________________ __________________________________________ MIGUEL ARIAS, Councilmember District 3 TYLER MAXWELL, Councilmember District 4
_____________________________________________ __________________________________________ BRANDON VANG, Councilmember District 5 NICK RICHARDSON, Councilmember District 7