Trailblazing Xavier University President and Alpha Phi Alpha Brother Dr. Norman C. Francis Dies at 94

Dr. Norman C. Francis, the transformative longtime president of Xavier University of Louisiana and a devoted member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, has died at 94. His family announced that he passed away early Wednesday morning at Ochsner Hospital.

For nearly half a century, Dr. Francis led Xavier University, becoming in 1968 the first Black and first lay president of the nation’s only Catholic historically Black university. Over a 49-year tenure that lasted until 2015, he reshaped the institution into a national leader in producing Black graduates in medicine, pharmacy, and the sciences. Under his leadership, Xavier more than tripled its enrollment and became renowned for sending more Black graduates to medical school and awarding more doctorate pharmacy degrees to Black Americans than any other university in the country.

Born March 20, 1931, in Lafayette, Louisiana, to Joseph A. Francis and Mabel F. Francis, Dr. Francis received a Catholic education before earning his Bachelor of Science degree from Xavier University of Louisiana. An honor student all four years, he worked a scholarship repairing damaged books in the university library and was elected student body president his senior year.

He went on to attend Loyola University Law School in New Orleans, earning his Juris Doctor in 1955 and making history as the first Black graduate of Loyola’s law school. After serving in the United States Army’s Third Armored Division and earning the rank of corporal specialist four, he launched his civilian career in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, helping integrate federal agencies.

As a young lawyer, Dr. Francis represented civil rights activists, including Xavier student Rudolph Lombard, who was arrested for attempting to integrate the lunch counter at McCrory’s on Canal Street. As Dean of Men at Xavier in 1961, he housed the Freedom Riders in St. Michael’s dormitory when others throughout New Orleans refused them shelter.

On April 4, 1968 — the day Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated — Dr. Francis accepted the role of president of his alma mater at just 37 years old. He would go on to become one of the longest-sitting university presidents in the nation’s history.

In 1967, he crossed into the brotherhood of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, through the Sigma Lambda Chapter. Throughout his life, he embodied the fraternity’s legacy of scholarship, leadership, and service.

Beyond the walls of Xavier, Dr. Francis co-founded Liberty Bank of New Orleans — now one of the largest Black-owned banks in the country — and served as its chairman since its inception in 1972. He advised eight U.S. presidents on education and civil rights and served on dozens of national boards and commissions. In 1983, he helped compile the landmark report A Nation at Risk, calling for comprehensive education reform. Following Hurricane Katrina, he chaired the Louisiana Recovery Authority, guiding both Xavier and the city of New Orleans through rebuilding.

In 2006, President George W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, recognizing his “deep intellect, compassion and character.” He later received the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his contributions to the United States.

His family shared, “With heavy hearts filled with love and gratitude, our family announces the passing of our beloved father, Dr. Norman C. Francis, who entered eternal rest on February 18, 2026.”

They reflected on his life of faith and service, adding, “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 the world knew him as a university president and civil rights leader, his family knew him simply as father. “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.”

“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.”

Xavier University also honored its President Emeritus, noting that for seven decades — including 47 years as University President — Dr. Francis shaped Xavier into a national model of excellence and access.

Dr. Norman C. Francis is survived by six children and 11 grandchildren.

He leaves behind more than buildings, titles, and accolades. He leaves a legacy of access, courage, faith, and institution-building that transformed Xavier University, strengthened New Orleans, and inspired generations of Black leaders across this country.