FULTON, Mo. (THECOUNT) — Wallace J. Franklin Jr., an accomplished executive chef and former Iowa State University football player from Ankeny, Iowa, has drowned in Morningside Lake in Fulton, the seat of Callaway County in central Missouri. Franklin was pulled from the lake Thursday morning after a witness reported hearing someone in the water calling for help. Franklin was 39.
Emergency crews were dispatched to Morningside Lake at Morningside Park at 10:09 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2026, following a 911 call reporting that a person had gone underwater and did not resurface. According to the Fulton Police Department, first responders did not see anyone in the water upon arrival. A witness on scene directed responders to the approximate location where they believed the person had gone under, telling a local outlet they initially thought the disturbance was animals before recognizing it as someone calling for help.
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Crews searched the lake for several hours. Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Kyle Green confirmed that Franklin’s body was located and removed from the water at approximately 2:00 p.m. The Fulton Police Department, Fulton Fire Department, Callaway County Ambulance District, Missouri State Highway Patrol, South Callaway Fire Protection District, and Callaway County Sheriff’s Office all responded. Fulton Police Chief Bill Ladwig stated the drowning appears accidental. The department has indicated it will not release additional details at this time.
Franklin was a former wide receiver at Iowa State University, where he played for the Cyclones. His Instagram profile listed accolades including the 2018 Best Fine Dining Restaurant in Ankeny and the 2017 Dine Iowa Grand Tasting Gala. His LinkedIn identified him as an executive chef with Fresh Ideas Management, LLC, in the greater Des Moines area.
A former colleague paid tribute to Franklin on social media following his death. “Wallace was a French-trained chef whose plate presentation and attention to detail were truly unmatched,” the co-worker wrote. “His work spoke for itself — every dish carried intention, discipline, and artistry. Although I came in as the senior chef, the truth is we learned from each other every single day. I taught him, and he taught me right back. That mutual respect, that creative exchange, is something I will always value and carry with me. Beyond the kitchen, he was someone I respected deeply. His passion for his craft and the pride he took in his work will never be forgotten. Rest easy, Chef. You are truly appreciated and will be missed.”
Fulton is the county seat of Callaway County in central Missouri, located approximately 25 miles east of Jefferson City — the state capital — and roughly 100 miles west of St. Louis along U.S. Highway 54. The city has a population of approximately 12,000 and is home to Westminster College, the site of Winston Churchill’s famous 1946 “Iron Curtain” speech, as well as the Missouri School for the Deaf and Fulton State Hospital. Ankeny, where Franklin lived, is a rapidly growing suburb of Des Moines in Polk County, Iowa, with a population of more than 70,000. It sits approximately eight miles north of downtown Des Moines along Interstate 35 and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the state.
Morningside Park is a municipal green space on the south side of Fulton surrounding Morningside Lake, a small body of water used by residents for fishing, walking, and recreation. Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death in Missouri. The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Water Patrol Division encourages swimmers to use life jackets, avoid swimming alone, and never enter natural bodies of water after dark. No lifeguard is on duty at Morningside Lake.
No additional details about the circumstances leading to Franklin’s death have been released. The investigation is ongoing.
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