Born in Ganado, Arizona on the Navajo reservation, William B. Franklin majored in Sociology and minored in Art at Northern Arizona University.  From silversmithing, he switched to painting in the 1970's.  Currently he works in acrylic and oil, along with some sculpture.  He was won numerous first place and divisional awards and honors at the Museum of Northern Arizona Navajo Show and the SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market.  Franklin was given the Helen Hardin Memorial Award for the most promising painter.