Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Host Ceremony Honoring Retired Xavier University of Louisiana President Dr. Norman C. Francis - Press Release

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Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Host Ceremony Honoring Retired Xavier University of Louisiana President Dr. Norman C. Francis 
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<div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2025 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>April 3, 2025</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT JUSTICES HOST CEREMONY HONORING RETIRED XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA PRESIDENT DR. NORMAN C. FRANCIS</strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; The Louisiana Supreme Court hosted an event honoring Dr. Norman C. Francis, President Emeritus of Xavier University of Louisiana, at the Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr. Courthouse. The ceremony, organized in collaboration with attorney Tim Francis, son of Dr. Norman Francis, featured the unveiling of a bust of Dr. Francis which will be on display in the Courthouse. Speakers included Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice Piper D. Griffin, Justice John Michael Guidry, Justice Cade R. Cole, and current Xavier University President Dr. Reynold Verret. Retired Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Scott J. Crichton also attended. </p><p>Chief Justice Weimer explained, &ldquo;You have earned a place here today as an attorney, a role model, and a mentor and you bring to this building diversity that will be displayed here, and that is reflective of the rich diversity of our state. You have absolutely earned a place here by the positive influence that you have had in teaching so many who will sit in judgment as judges in our state. This building is named for one of your classmates with whom you&rsquo;ve also had influence when you were both law school students.&rdquo; </p><p>As Mistress of Ceremonies, Justice Piper D. Griffin stated, &ldquo;Why would the Supreme Court honor Dr. Francis? Dr. Francis is a lawyer who first practiced law before becoming the president of Xavier University.&rdquo; She went on to say, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s really exciting to be a part of this event because almost everyone in this room has been touched in some way by Xavier, whether you are graduates of Xavier, have attended Xavier, or have a relationship with Dr. Francis.&rdquo;</p><p>Judges and legal professionals, many of whom are Xavier alumni, gathered to honor Dr. Francis, who is also an attorney, and his significant contributions. He was appointed by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to the presidency of Xavier in 1968, becoming the first layperson and African American president of a Catholic university. He served in that capacity for 47 years until his retirement in 2015, making him one of the longest-serving university presidents in the U.S. He advanced Xavier University as a leader in training pharmacists and sending students to medical schools. A civil rights leader, Dr. Francis helped Freedom Riders in the 1960s. Later by appointment by then-Governor Kathleen Blanco, he led the Louisiana Recovery Authority after Hurricane Katrina, aiding in the revitalization of New Orleans. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation&rsquo;s highest civilian honor, from President George W. Bush in 2006, and the Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame, which is among the nation&rsquo;s highest honors for Catholics, in 2019. </p><p>Dr. Francis is a 1952 graduate of Xavier University. In 1955 he became the first African American to earn a JD from Loyola University Law School and served in the U.S. Army&rsquo;s Third Armored Division from 1956 to 1957. </p><p>The bust will be displayed in the State Wing of the Law Library of Louisiana, near a portrait of civil rights attorney A.P. Tureaud.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em> </p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2025/images/2025-02_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2025/images/2025-03_LASC_Justices_honor_Dr_Norman_C_Francis_PDG.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper D. Griffin spoke to attendees during a ceremony honoring Retired Xavier University of Louisiana President Dr. Norman C. Francis." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper D. Griffin spoke to attendees during a ceremony honoring Retired Xavier University of Louisiana President Dr. Norman C. Francis.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2025/images/2025-03_LASC_Justices_honor_Dr_Norman_C_Francis_JLW.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer (standing) addresses Dr. Norman C. Francis (seated left) during an unveiling ceremony honoring the retired Xavier University of Louisiana president. Tim Francis, Esq. (seated right) observes. Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry looks on." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer (standing) addresses Dr. Norman C. Francis (seated left) during an unveiling ceremony honoring the retired Xavier University of Louisiana president. Tim Francis, Esq. (seated right) observes. Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry looks on.</span> </p></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>
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