How might one describe Dr. Francis? While some university presidents barely leave a mark, Dr. Francis shaped both a university and a city. His life is so interwoven with both Xavier University and New Orleans that it is almost impossible to separate the strands.
His commitment to social change and social justice began when he was still an undergraduate. Segregation was still in force when Norman Francis became the first black student to attend and graduate from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.
In 1968 he was appointed the first lay and first black president of Xavier. Under his leadership, the university grew both its student body and its academic reputation.
He created a bank for underserved African-Americans. He counseled Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson, New Orleans mayors, and U.S. Presidents. He told the Pope to stay off the Xavier quad grass.
Over the years, both Dr. Dr. Francis and Xavier would receive many honors and awards. Known throughout his tenure for his sure and steady leadership, Gov. Blanco chose Dr. Francis to lead the state recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina.
New Orleans even named a street in his honor.
Xavier University of Louisiana Library Digital Archives & Collections
