Frank Wang

In 1980, 16-year-old high school student Frank Wang responded to an employment request from John Saxon, who was engaged in writing his first textbook. Wang fulfilled numerous duties for Saxon, including serving as "gofer" and eventually rising to the task of assisting with the writing, proofreading, and editing of the textbooks. His employment was interrupted when he graduated from high school and enrolled at Princeton to study math. At this time, his goal was to follow in his father's footsteps and become a professor.

Wang received his bachelor's degree four years later and enrolled at Massachusetts Institute of Technology to do his graduate work. After a year at MIT, Wang was once again sought out by Saxon, who wanted assistance in writing a calculus text for the high school level. Wang consented, left MIT for one year, and in 1988 was published as co-author of the Saxon Calculus text. Upon the book's completion, Wang once again resumed his mathematics studies and continued his path to becoming a professor. Shortly before completing his doctorate in pure mathematics, Wang was again approached by John Saxon. This time, Saxon asked him to consider coming back to the Norman-based company and assume its daily leadership and management. After much deliberation, Wang accepted the offer, and upon receiving his doctorate degree, in 1991 became the company's first vice president.

Wang was named executive vice president in 1992 and became president of Saxon Publishers in 1994. Oftentimes working 12 to 16 hours a day, Wang saw the company sales more than quadruple over a 6-year period. From fewer than 30 employees in 1991, the company size quadrupled and by 1998 reported more than 150 people on the payroll, including salespeople nationwide. Wang was active in all areas of the company. His most notable accomplishments included expanding the product line to include phonics, developing the company's organizational and management infrastructure, and establishing a company-wide budgeting system. He also managed to schedule numerous speaking engagements and made himself available for interviews and requests from the media.

After John Saxon's death in October 1996, Wang began serving as Chairman of the Board, as well as functioning as the president and CEO from 1996 until 2001. In 2001, Wang stepped down as president and CEO, and in late 2002 resigned from the Board of Directors, to finally pursue his dream of becoming a college professor. Today, Frank Wang is a visiting professor of mathematics at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma and also teaches an advanced math program at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics in Oklahoma City. Wang continues his close association with Saxon by serving as the company's 'chief evangelist'. He continues to speak, write and consult on the company's behalf to aid in furthering the Saxon mission.

Frank Wang is dedicated to preserving John Saxon's memory and ideology of turning around mathematics education in America, and strives to continue the spirit and enthusiasm of a company which has been a part of his life for the past 20+ years.