Emeritus Professor Named Recipient of National Leadership Award

Ronald Frantz Jr., emeritus professor, has been named a 2026 Mary Means Leadership Award recipient, the highest honor presented by Main Street America. The award was announced at the Main Street Now Conference in Tulsa, recognizing leaders who advance preservation-based economic development and community revitalization.  

Frantz was selected by a national jury for more than three decades of work strengthening Oklahoma communities through design, preservation, and mentorship. During his 19 years as statewide design architect for the Oklahoma Main Street Center, he completed over 17,000 site visits in 69 communities and helped guide thousands of façade improvements and building rehabilitations; efforts that contributed to more than $773 million in reinvestment across the state.  

His impact extends beyond project work. Frantz is widely known for building local capacity through hands-on training, design workshops, and one-on-one guidance that empowered community leaders and volunteers to shape their own revitalization efforts. 

At the University of Oklahoma, Frantz expanded this mission through the Institute for Quality Communities, directing the Small Town Studio and supporting more than 120 planning and design projects in rural and underserved areas. Nationally, he has helped grow the Main Street movement through teaching, professional training, and presentations in more than two dozen states.  

Today, Frantz continues to serve on the Oklahoma Main Street Advisory Committee and Foundation Board, offering expertise that supports the program's long-term success.