An obituary published in The Examiner on April 7, 2021 noted the following about Clarence Charles Franklin, Jr.:

"Clarence Charles Franklin Jr, 95, of Independence MO died peacefully at his home Friday night, March 26, 2021. Charlie was born July 22, 1925 in Independence, MO. He attended Independence schools, worked at various stores on the Square, and graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1943. Charlie immediately began service in the Army during World War II. He served until May 1946 in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. After being discharged from the Army, he attended the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) on the GI Bill. He graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. While there, he played basketball and baseball for MU and was active in the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.


He met Elaine Brazeal and they were married on April 22, 1951. This April would have marked 70 years of a wonderful marriage filled with fun adventures. Charlie and Elaine came to Independence after college and started a family and a business. Charlie first worked for Sinclair Oil Company. He formed Liner Oil Company and then his 50-year business of Franklin Oil Company. Franklin Oil operated numerous gas stations and was an automotive supply distributor throughout the Midwest. Charlie took a special interest in sports. He played football, basketball and baseball as a youth and is a member of the William Chrisman Hall of Fame. He coached all of his children throughout the years and eventually coached a 17–18-year-old baseball team which placed third in the nation in Farmington, New Mexico in 1977. He was often affectionately called by his nickname "King Kong". Charlie also encouraged his sons to participate in Boy Scouts; he was very proud that his two sons and eight grandsons are Eagle Scouts and Warriors in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.


He is well known for his lifelong civic service and leadership including: Independence City Planning Committee, Citizens for the Charter Committee, All-American City Committee, AID Committee, Queen City Baseball Association (President), Independence Rotary Club (President), Independence Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Baseball Commission, Zenas Smith Baseball Commission, Jackson County Charter Transition Committee, First National Bank Board of Directors, Kansas City Area Boy Scout Council Board of Directors, Independence Sanitarium & Hospital Finance Committee, Harry S. Truman Neurological Center Board of Directors, Community of Christ Church member, Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors, Independence & Blue Springs Sheltered Workshop Board of Directors, Noland Road Intergovernmental Committee, 1977 Community Builders Award recipient, Community Music Association, Committee for County Progress (President), Business Blitz Against Cancer (Chairman), School Night Program (Chairman), Save our Schools Drive (Chairman), Independence Chamber Presidential Community Award recipient, 1983 Milgram Sports Award recipient, Alaskan Department Certificate of Commendable Service recipient, and Alpha Tau Omega fraternity (Worthy Master).

Charlie spent his life helping all those he could and was loved by many. He had an engaging sense of humor, a selfless spirit, and was always looking for ways to encourage others. "Kong" will be dearly missed by his loved ones and all those whose lives he touched."

If passed, this action would designate Noland Road between 40 Highway and 24 Highway as the "Honorary Charlie Franklin Road." The actual name-Noland Road-would not be changed. Instead, four honorary street sign markers would be installed throughout the corridor and would not supplant existing signage for Noland Road.