Joseph Frankel was an Asbury Park boy through and through. His grandfather was the sexton of Temple Beth El on First Avenue; his uncles included 2 local prominent attorneys and a dentist, and his father was the proprietor of a Main Street liquor store which bore his name. At APHS he played basketball and tennis. He was the sports editor of the Megaphone, writing a weekly column, ''Frankel-ly Speaking''. He continued his education at Brown University from which he graduated in 1962, and followed that by obtaining his law degree at the University of Pennsylvania. He was employed by the Prudential Insurance Company (now Prudential Financial) and rose to the position of Vice-President and New Jersey Counsel. He was Prudential''s accomplishments were acquiring the government approvals for the conversion of Prudential form a mutual company to a publicly held corporation.

Mr. Frankel was elected to the borough council in Eatontown in 1971, then was elected mayor in 1975. He was re-elected for 4 additional terms and served a total of 20 years as Eatontown''s mayor, during which time he guided the Borough through periods of tremendous residential and commercial growth. Mayor Frankel, together with another of our inductees, the late Congressman James Howard, were successful in 1975 in their "Save the Fort" campaign, keeping Fort Monmouth open and saving over 1700 jobs.

Mayor Frankel has received numerous civic and professional awards including one from Big Brothers and Sisters, the Armed Forces Service Award, Jewish War Veterans Americanism Award, Man of the Year from Congregation Sons of Israel, the Boy Scouts ''Good Scout Award'', and the Progress Award from the Eatontown Chamber of Commerce.

Mayor Frankel is married to Susan (Rubin, APHS ''58), who retired after a career in Special Education. They are parents of Steven and Lynn, and grandparents of Sarah Drew, Will, Caroline, and Ellie. He believes you should ''keep a positive outlook in your business and social relationships. It will aid your success and make you more enjoyable to be around.''