Norman C. Francis, president emeritus of Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, passed away on February 18. He was 94 years old.
A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Francis graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana with his bachelor’s degree in 1952. He went on to earn his juris doctorate from Loyola University New Orleans in 1955, making him the university’s first Black graduate. Over the course of his career, he received 35 honorary degrees from institutions across the United States.
In 1957, Francis began his career at his undergraduate alma mater as dean of men. Eleven years later, he became the HBCU’s first lay president. During Francis’ 47-year presidency, Xavier significantly increased its enrollment, expanded its campus, and enhanced its academic offerings, particularly in health science disciplines. Francis retired in 2015 as the longest-tenured university president in the United States.
In addition to his leadership at Xavier, Francis was a dedicated civil rights activist and leader within the broader New Orleans community. In 1972, he co-founded Liberty Bank and Trust Company, one of the oldest and largest Black-owned banks in the United States, to provide financial services to underserved Black communities. Francis was also instrumental in bringing a National Football League team to New Orleans. He was an early investor in the New Orleans Saints and in the development of the Superdome. Additionally, Francis had a stint as chair of the United Negro College Fund.
As a trusted civic leader, Francis served as an advisor to eight U.S. presidents on issues of education and civil rights. As chair of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, he played a critical role in Louisiana’s recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The following year, President George W. Bush presented Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
