Civil Rights Icon and Presidential Medal of Freedom Honoree Norman C. Francis Passes Away at 94

Norman C. Francis, a trailblazer in civil rights and a staunch advocate for education, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 94. His legacy is marked by his significant contributions to the revitalization of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

His passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from community members, activists, and leaders throughout Louisiana, who hailed his enduring impact and dedication.

“The nation is better and richer for his having lived among us,” expressed Reynold Verret, president of Xavier University, in a statement confirming Francis’ death.

Francis was instrumental in the state’s recovery efforts following Katrina, leading the Louisiana Recovery Authority, which managed the extensive billion-dollar reconstruction initiatives.

Reflecting on Francis’ pivotal role, former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu recalled how Francis “stood in the breach” after the hurricane. Landrieu, who was serving as lieutenant governor when the disaster struck in 2005, frequently sought Francis’ guidance during his most challenging times.

“The most defining part of his character is that he treats every human being with dignity and respect,” Landrieu posted on X on Wednesday.

Francis was well-known for his role as president of Xavier University in New Orleans, the nation’s only predominantly Black Catholic university. Francis held the position for 47 years beginning in 1968.

During his tenure, enrollment more than doubled, the endowment mushroomed and the campus expanded. The small school gained a national reputation for preparing Black undergraduates for medical professions and for producing graduates in fields such as biology, chemistry, physics and pharmacy.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when parts of the school’s campus were submerged under 8 feet (2.4 meters) of water, Francis vowed that the college would return.

Multiple civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, honored Francis as one of the nation’s top college presidents. In 2006, then-President George W. Bush awarded Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“Dr. Francis was more than an administrator. He was an institution builder, a civil rights champion, and a man of quiet generosity,” Louisiana U.S. Rep. Troy Carter posted on social media. “He believed education was the pathway to justice. He believed lifting one student could lift an entire family.”

Francis, the son of a barber, grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana. He received his bachelor’s degree from Xavier in 1952. He became the first Black student at Loyola University’s law school — integrating the school and earning his law degree in 1955.

He went on to spend two years in the Army, then joined the U.S. Attorney General’s office to help integrate federal agencies.

Even then, he still couldn’t use the front door to enter many New Orleans hotels, restaurants or department stores because of his race.

“Some people say to me, ‘My God! How did you take that?’” Francis said during a 2008 interview with The Associated Press. “Well, you took that because you had to believe that one day, the words that your parents said to you ‘You’re good enough to be president of the United States’ yes, we held onto that.”

In 1957, he joined Xavier in the role of Dean of Men, beginning his decades-long career at the university.

Francis’s wife, Blanche, died in 2015. The couple had six children and multiple grandchildren.