{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nFranz Ulrich Walkup is a Republican candidate for Cannon County Register of Deeds in the August 6, 2026 county general election, challenging incumbent Sandy Hollandsworth [3].\n\n## Background and education\n\nWalkup was born September 12, 1988, in Reutlingen, Germany, and moved to the United States in 2001 [2]. He is from Woodbury, Tennessee [1][2].\n\n## Career\n\nWalkup joined the U.S. Army after his brother, 1st Lt. Frank Bland Walkup IV, was killed in action in Iraq in 2007 [1][2]. He trained at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma, then deployed to Iraq in 2010 with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, for Operation New Dawn [1][2]. He later deployed to Afghanistan as a Forward Observer with 3rd Platoon, Destined Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team [1][2]. On September 29, 2012, in Afghanistan's Wardak Province, he sustained five gunshot wounds from Afghan National Army soldiers, causing polytrauma including major nerve damage to his legs and severe abdominal injuries, and was awarded the Purple Heart [1][2]. He was treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, underwent 78 surgeries, and received a specially adapted home in Woodbury in December 2016 through the Gary Sinise Foundation's R.I.S.E. program [1][2]. After his recovery, Walkup attended the Colorado School of Trades' gunsmith program, graduating in October 2016, then returned to Woodbury, completed machinist school, earned a bachelor's degree, and went to work for Barrett Firearms Manufacturing while pursuing an MBA [1].\n\n## Sources\n\n[1] [SGT. Franz Walkup](https://www.chamberlainsociety.org/heroes/nashville-heroes/sgt-franz-walkup/), The Joshua Chamberlain Society - accessed 2026-07-06\n[2] [\"U.S. Army Veteran injured in war received a new home in Woodbury\"](https://www.wgnsradio.com/article/34011/u-s-army-veteran-injured-in-war-received-a-new-home-in-woodbury), WGNS Radio, December 22, 2016 - accessed 2026-07-06\n[3] [\"2026 Election Field Continues to Grow\"](https://www.wbry.com/2026-election-field-continues-to-grow/), WBRY FM 107.1/1540 - accessed 2026-07-06","campaigns":[{"contest":"register","county":"Cannon","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"TN","title":"Register Of Deeds"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"FRANZ","fullname":"FRANZ ULRICH WALKUP","lastname":"WALKUP","middlename":"ULRICH","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"register","contest_title":"Register Of Deeds","county":"Cannon","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"register","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"register","contest_title":"Register Of Deeds","county":"Cannon","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-08-06","office_county":null,"office_key":"register","office_title":null,"party":"R","pgr":"general","state":"TN"},"party":"R","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"register","office_title":"Register Of Deeds","state":"TN","terms":[]}],"summary":"Republican candidate for Cannon County Register of Deeds in 2026; Army veteran awarded the Purple Heart after being shot five times in Afghanistan in 2012.","terms":[],"token":"IHgXcOtFuR"}