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There is a Living Legend in Tool TX. Her name is Fran Sonka. Fran is a community builder, a civic leader, a people person and a walking-talking advertisement for Tool. For over 30 years, ‘Miss Fran’ has worked for the good of Tool. And now, the community and school are coming together to say ‘Thank You’ in a way that would mean most to her. A Teaching Garden at the school she helped build. 

 

In 1991, Fran Sonka of Tool left her career at Republic National Bank in Dallas and retired to the lake life of Cedar Creek. She recalls thinking that “…everyone was working, working, working but not living so I retired at 55 determined to LIVE the rest of my years!” 

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Not one to be idle, Fran quickly became a part of the Tool community. In 1995, she threw her hat in the ring and her name on the ballot for City Council. She was voted in and served in this capacity until 2012. In 1999, at one Council meeting the then-Mayor walked in and resigned. She laughs when she remembers that, “when the dust settled, I was Mayor.” A position she enjoyed for two more years. 

 

I.                                                          In her time serving the community of Tool, Fran Sonka found it hard to                                                             accept that the children of Tool were required to spend two hours on                                                               a bus each day to attend their MISD school. “There was no school on t                                                           his side of the lake for our kids and I was determined to change that.”                                                             When the Elementary school in Malakoff burned down, Fran, then-                                                                 Mayor Scott Confer and other council members moved quickly to                                                                   position Tool as the new location for the Elementary School.

 

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In 2007, the Tool Elementary School opened its doors for the first time.

“Every morning, when the bus arrived at the school, Miss Fran was there

to greet each student and give them a hug,” say the teachers who watched

her repeat this routine every school day until 2020 when COVID brought

an end to her public activities. “For some, it may be the only hug they got

that day.”

 

Fran Sonka has done much for this community. As recently as April, you’ve

witnessed the hand of Fran up and down Highway 274. While serving on

the council, she and a few others would drive the highway throwing

wildflower seed out the window. 

 

When asked her age, Fran will reply that she is 90 ½ years old, adding emphasis on those extra six months. 90 years old is in her rearview mirror, she’ll say; now she wants to grow up to be a Gardener.

 

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