Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
Surrounded by family, friends, and members of the legal community, Steven Andrew Franz raised his right hand and took the oath of office as an attorney. The moment carried a unique and deeply personal weight—not only was Steven beginning his legal career, but he was being sworn in by the same judge who had administered the oath to his father, John David Franz, Sr., over four decades earlier.
U.S. Southern District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa, a towering figure in South Texas legal history, stood before the young attorney, reflecting on the moment with reverence.
“It’s a very special honor for me to be able to administer this oath to a young man who has done so well,” Judge Hinojosa said. “Like most of you, I was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. And I’ll tell you—we are lucky. When something good happens, like tonight, we show up. And when something hard happens, we still show up. That’s the kind of people we are.”
The crowd listened intently as Hinojosa invoked his own family’s history and the Valley’s enduring spirit, before inviting Steven to repeat the words that would welcome him into the legal profession.
The emotional peak came not just from the present, but from the past. In 1984, Judge Hinojosa officiated a similar ceremony for a young attorney starting his legal career—Steven’s father. Now, 41 years later, the judge returned to honor the next generation.
Steven, a native of McAllen, demonstrated determination from an early age. While still in high school, he earned an associate’s degree from South Texas College. At just 18, he graduated from St. Edward’s University with a degree in Political Science. His academic journey eventually led him to Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor—a road that would test not only his intellect but also his perseverance.
Dr. Ricardo Solis, President of South Texas College, reflected on Steven’s journey with pride: “This is a very significant event—especially because Mr. Franz began his academic journey with us at South Texas College as a very young student. He took full advantage of our early dual credit program, and I truly believe that opportunity helped give him the confidence and drive to pursue everything that followed. That means a great deal to us at STC. We’re incredibly proud of him, and we’re confident he will continue to do great things.”
Steven took to the stage afterward with his trademark mix of humility, humor, and heart. “It seems like everywhere I go, I end up with a microphone in my hand,” he joked, before turning serious. “But today is different. It’s one of the most meaningful moments of my life.”
He thanked his family—his mother Annette for being his best friend, his father for his constant guidance, and his older brother for pushing him never to give up. But most striking was Steven’s honesty about the journey it took to get there.
“I didn’t make it through law school on my first try. I had to reapply and start over,” he shared. “I also didn’t pass the bar exam on my first attempt. But I’m still here. I’m standing before you, having completed something I set out to do years ago. And I’m proud of that.”
His message resonated with many in the audience. Steven offered a rare and refreshing vulnerability: that failure is not the end—it’s part of the path forward.
What makes Steven’s journey even more unique is that while attending law school, he also built a successful career as a social media influencer. Balancing full-time legal studies with a growing online brand is no small feat, and for five years, Steven says, he lived two lives “at a hundred miles per hour.”
“If you stop posting content, you lose momentum. But in law school, if you fall behind, you’re in real trouble. So, I had to be two different people at once,” he said. “What I’ve learned from that is it’s absolutely okay to fail. It’s just not okay to give up.”
Steven shared a heartwarming story from his first-grade year, when he was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. Inspired by his father, he drew a man in a suit carrying a briefcase. His three reasons for becoming a lawyer? “They get to watch all the Astros games, go to the ranch on weekends, and eat as much ice cream as they want without asking.”
Steven used the anecdote to reflect on what he later learned: “As I got older, I realized what my dad actually did every day after dropping me off at school—he helped people. People who were injured, those who were wronged, and those who needed someone to stand up for them. That’s why I went to law school.”
And now, Steven is ready to take that same mission forward. In an exciting announcement, he shared that he will be joining his father in launching Franz Law Group, a new legal firm based in the Rio Grande Valley. With deep roots in the community and a passion for service, Steven sees this as a way to give back to the very people who have supported him through every chapter of his journey.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today—on social media, in school, in life—without the support of people here in the Valley,” he said. “I’m excited to use this law license to help the people who helped me.”
Steven’s older brother, John David Franz, Jr., shared his reflections on the moment: “As his older brother, this moment is incredibly special. We’ve always been very close—he’s my only brother, and I’m his. There’s about an eight-and-a-half-year age difference between us, so I remember him as a baby, a toddler, and watching him grow into the man he is today.
Despite being the older one, I’ve often found myself looking up to him, especially as we’ve entered adulthood. I really admire all that he’s accomplished in such a short time. Our family is close-knit, and I know how hard he’s worked to get here. I couldn’t be prouder.”
As the ceremony concluded, the applause was more than congratulatory, after witnessing the continuation of a legacy and the emergence of a voice uniquely its own. One that’s honest, resilient, and rooted in the values of faith, family, and fortitude.
