In 1927, University of Michigan students formed a glider club under the guidance of Prof. Roswell Franklin and built several primary-type gliders.  Proffesor Franklin saw a need for an advanced-type so in 1928, he built a primary-secondary glider, the PS-2.  He then formed the Franklin Glider Corporation to manufacture it.  Approximately 55 Franklin gliders were built. 

 In 1929, Capt. Frank Hawks, a popular racing pilot, won a spot-landing contest in a Franklin glider.  Hwaks saw gliders as a way to attract youngsters to aviation and conceived the idea of a cross-country glider tow.  Franklin built a special glider, the Eagle, and on March 20, 1930, Hawks left San Diego on a tow behind a Waco biplane.  Eight days and 20 stops later, he landed in New York City.  Hawks had been towed 2,800 miles and had given talks promoting aviation at each stop. 

Source: Michigan Aircraft Manufacturers by Robert F. Pauly