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In 1964, Harold A. Franklin became the first African American student at Auburn University.

Franklin was admitted under heavy guard and was kept isolated from other students in campus housing. Although obstacles of the era prevented Dr. Franklin from completing his degree at Auburn, he went on to earn a master's degree in history at University of Denver, and later pursue a renowned career in Higher Education at many institutions.

He taught and held administrative posts at Alabama State University, North Carolina A&T University, Tuskegee Institute and Talladega College from 1965 until retiring from education in 1992. In 2001, 37 years after leaving the university, Harold Franklin was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Auburn University. He is currently a resident in Sylacauga, AL. He is now manager of a mortuary in Talladega, AL.