Longtime Xavier University President and civil rights pioneer Norman C. Francis died at age 94.
He was a prominent figure in New Orleans history and was Xavier’s president for 47 years.
He was born in 1931 in Lafayette and in 1948, moved to New Orleans to attend Xavier.
While there, he was elected class president each of his undergraduate years and student body president his senior year.
After graduating in 1952, he enrolled in the Loyola University School of Law where he made history as the first African American person to graduate.
Shortly after, he received his draft order and enlisted in the military.
In 1957, Francis took on the first of his many roles at Xavier when he was hired to serve as the “Dean of Men” at the University.
In 1968, he was made president of Xavier at 37-years-old.
During his tenure, the University saw unparalleled growth, new partnerships and well-deserved prominence as one of the premiere HBCU’s in the country.
Xavier is first in nation in the number of African Americans earning bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry and physics.
Xavier is also the number one undergraduate source of African Americans who earn medical degrees.
Dr. Francis also founded the Institute of Black Catholic Studies.
In 2015, he retired from Xavier as the nation’s longest serving university president.
Throughout his life, he received 22 honorary degrees, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Francis was 94 years old.
The family of Dr. Francis released the following statement Wednesday morning.
Above all else, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend whose love, wisdom, and steadfast faith shaped our family and touched everyone who knew him. His Catholic faith was the foundation of his life, guiding the way he loved, served, and cared for others. He taught us to lead with compassion, to stand for justice, and to trust in God’s grace in all things.
While many knew him as the former president of Xavier University, as a civil rights leader, and as a respected voice for justice and equality on both the local and national stage, we knew him simply as Daddy — a man whose greatest joy came from family gatherings, quiet moments of prayer, and encouraging those around him to live with purpose and kindness.
We find comfort in knowing that he is now reunited in eternal rest with his beloved wife, our mother, Blanche, his parents, his brother, Bishop Joseph Francis, and sisters Velma and Pauline, and many cherished members of our extended family who have gone before him marked with the sign of faith. We trust that they are together again in the peace and light of God’s loving embrace.
His legacy lives on not only through his accomplishments and leadership, but through the countless lives he inspired, the students and communities he uplifted, the public officials he advised, and the values he passed on to us. We will remember his gentle strength, his unwavering integrity, and his deep passion for equity.
As we celebrate his extraordinary life, we ask for your prayers for our family and for all those whose lives were blessed by knowing him.
Details regarding funeral arrangements will be shared in the coming days. We respectfully ask that our family’s privacy be honored during this time of mourning as we gather in faith, remembrance, and love.
Tributes from public figures and dignitaries were pouring in Wednesday in remembrance of Dr. Francis.
Mayor Moreno’s Statement on the loss of Dr. Norman C. Francis
Today, our city mourns the loss of a giant. Dr. Norman C. Francis dedicated his life to uplifting others, and through his extraordinary leadership at Xavier University of Louisiana he shaped generations of leaders.
Dr. Francis’ unwavering commitment to civil rights, educational opportunity, and human dignity had an immeasurable impact on our city. It was my distinct honor, during my time on the City Council, to help name Norman C. Francis Parkway in tribute to his remarkable legacy, a small reflection of the profound and lasting mark he leaves on our city.
Beyond his historic achievements, I was blessed to call Dr. Francis a friend and to share a close bond with his beloved family. Today, we honor not only a trailblazer and visionary, but a compassionate leader whose life’s work will continue to inspire generations.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, the Xavier community, and all who were touched by his extraordinary life.
I join all of Louisiana in mourning the passing of Norman C. Francis. His lifelong commitment to education and civil rights strengthened our State and changed countless lives. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006 for his leadership and service to the City of New Orleans. His legacy will endure for generations. My prayers are with his family and the entire @XULA1925 community. – Attorney General Liz Murrill
READ MORE:Norman C Francis, longtime Xavier University president, dies at 94
