Due to his status as a Sears Roebuck heir he was the intended victim in the famous Nathan Leopold / Richard Loeb murder case. He usually walked home from school but on that day the family chauffeur picked him up for a dental appointment, so the two killers selected little Bobby Franks as their victim instead.
Had a lifetime friendship with Ronald Reagan.
Was the great grandson of Julius Rosenwald who was the CEO of Sears & Roebuck.