Meet the Staff

John Pilati

I am the Publisher of the Franklin Free Press. Along with former editor Jason Houston, I founded the paper in 2006. I am in charge of day-to-day operations of the newspaper as well as WGOL-920, my family’s locally-owned radio station.

I am a 1989 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where I hold a Journalism degree. Additionally, I am a 1992 graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law. My parents are Karl and Jimmie Pilati of Russellville.

I am an avid sports fan and enjoys adventure and wildlife travel. I live on Upper Bear Lake in Phil Campbell, Al.

Kadin Pounders

I am the Sports Editor of the Franklin Free Press. I am a Russellville, Ala., native, and I graduated from the University of North Alabama in 2016 with a degree in Sports Management.

After graduating from UNA I served as Assistant Sports Information Director at Birmingham-Southern College for three years and over the last eight years I've enjoyed working as a sports statistician in my spare time. I'm also an avid reader, mostly of history and general fiction.

If you have a local sports story or tip, please give me a text or call at 256-668-4088.

Follow me on Twitter for updates: @kadinhp

Jason Hill

To communicate your businesses or individual ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate your customers. If your businesses doesn't have an identity or logo, I can still provide you with an attractive form of advertising.

Originally from Ohio, I live here in Russellville. I graduated from the University of North Alabama with a degree in Graphic Design. My wife of 18 years is Dana and we have one child, Nicholas, 11.