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ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 54
BY REPRESENTATIVE CHASSION
A RESOLUTION
To honor the life of former Xavier University of Louisiana President Dr. Norman C. Francis
and designates February 18, 2026, as Norman Francis Day at the state capitol.
WHEREAS, Norman C. Francis was born in 1931 in Lafayette, Louisiana, and he
moved to New Orleans to attend Xavier University of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, while studying at Xavier, Dr. Francis was elected class president during
each of his undergraduate years and student body president during his senior year; and
WHEREAS, after graduating in 1952, Dr. Francis enrolled in Loyola University
School of Law, where he became the school's first African American graduate in 1955;
shortly after earning a juris doctor, he received his draft order and enlisted in the United
States Army; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Francis was hired by Xavier University in 1957 and served as dean
of men, the first of his many roles with the educational institution; he served as an attorney
litigating civil rights cases in Louisiana prior to Brown v. Board of Education and played a
key role in the civil rights movement; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Francis was chosen to serve as the first lay president of Xavier
University in 1968 at the age of thirty-seven; under his leadership, the university
strengthened its Catholic and historically Black identity and expanded its national reputation,
particularly in the sciences and health professions; and
WHEREAS, as president, Dr. Francis led Xavier University through a period of
unparalleled growth, new partnerships, and prominence as one of the country's premier
HBCUs; today, the university is recognized as a leading producer of Black graduates who
go on to earn medical degrees; he retired in 2015, after forty-seven years of impactful
service, and his presidency stands among the longest in U.S. higher education history; and
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HR NO. 54 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, Dr. Francis cofounded Liberty Bank and Trust Company, one of the
oldest and largest Black-owned banks in the United States, to provide financial services to
marginalized Black communities; he also helped the city of New Orleans acquire its first
NFL franchise by investing in the New Orleans Saints and the development of the
Superdome; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Francis was hailed as a monumental figure in philanthropy and
education; he served as chair of the United Negro College Fund and held leadership roles
on numerous corporate, foundation, and nonprofit boards; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Francis was a leading voice among Catholic higher education
presidents and helped shape the conversation on the implications of the papal encyclical Ex
Corde Ecclesiae and the role of Catholic identity in American higher education; he also
founded the Institute for Black Catholic Studies; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Francis was a trusted civic leader who played a pivotal role in the
rebuilding of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina; his presence helped anchor the
city's recovery with integrity, collaboration, and hope, and his work was an important factor
in his receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in 2006;
and
WHEREAS, Dr. Francis deservedly received countless honors and accolades, but his
most lasting legacy is found in the memory of his inspiring character, which was defined by
quiet strength, deep faith, disciplined leadership, and steadfast belief in students; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Norman C. Francis led without spectacle and was guided by the
unshakeable conviction that excellence and ethics are inseparable; he was a truly singular
figure in Louisiana and American history, and his life is worthy of the highest recognition.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby honor the life of former Xavier University of Louisiana
President Dr. Norman C. Francis and does hereby designate February 18, 2026, as Norman
Francis Day at the state capitol.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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