Keith Francis (runner)

Keith Francis (1955–2011) was an American middle-distance track athlete, US Government professional and Boston College Trustee.

Keith Francis
Born
Keith Francis

1955
New Bedford, Massachusetts
DiedJuly 27 2011
New Bedford, Massachusetts
Alma materNew Bedford High School

Boston College, BA, Lynch School of Education

Boston University, Masters Degree
OccupationIntelligence Analyst, ATF
Known forWorld class middle-distance runner
Children3
Parent(s)Louise A. (Monteiro) Ramos
Wesley A Francis

Early life, education and athletic achievements

Francis was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1955. A natural athlete, Francis participated in baseball and basketball at New Bedford High School (1968–1972).[1] He played basketball through his senior year, but decided to concentrate on track beginning his Junior year because he knew that his family could not afford sending him to College, and he felt he could be good enough to get a scholarship.[1] Soon, he was dominating the 880 yard run (Now the 800 meter). As a Senior he won the Massachusetts Class A Eastern Mass, Massachusetts State and the New England Championships at that distance. He broke the state record that year at 1:52.5.[2]

Accepted into Boston College on a track scholarship, he dominated middle-distance races during his tenure. Upon his graduation he was a seven-time All-American and NCAA Champion with eight school records, five of which he still held at the time of his death in 2011 (800 meter outdoor and indoor, 4 X 800 meter relay and sprint medley relay, and the 1,000 meter).

Outside of the NCAA, he was invited and competed in the 1974 and 1975 US National Track and Field Championships,[3] the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City[4] and the 1976 Olympic Track and Field Trials.[5] The National and World rankings gave him the opportunity to participate in many international meets during that time[6]

ESPN's Track & Field analyst Larry Rawson declared Keith Francis Track Career as "the greatest Boston College has ever seen".[7]

Individual event City Event Place Time Notes
1974 NCAA Div 1 Indoor Track & Field Championships[8][9] Detroit MI 1,000 M 2nd 2:08.40 NCAA All-American
1974 NCAA Div 1 Outdoor Track & Field Championships[10] Austin TX 880 Yd 2nd 1:49.00 NCAA All-American
1974 US National Track & Field Championships [3] Westwood, CA 800 M 5th 1:46.20
1975 NCAA Div 1 Indoor Track & Field Championships [8][11] Detroit MI 1,000 M 1st 2:08.40 NCAA All-American and National Champion
1975 NCAA Div 1 Outdoor Track & Field Championships[12] Provo, UT 880 Yd 4th 1:48.43 NCAA All-American
1975 US National Track & Field Championships [3] Eugene, OR 800 M 4th 1:46.18
1975 Pan Am Games[13][14] Mexico City 800 M 7th 1:49.30
1976 NCAA Div 1 Indoor Track & Field Championships [8][15] Detroit, MI 1,000 M 2nd 2:07.68 NCAA All-American
1976 Olympic Trials[16] Eugene, OR 800 M 8th 1:48.07

Career after Boston College and death

After Graduating in 1976 with a BA from the Boston College Lynch School of Education, Francis went on to earn a Masters Degree at Boston University.

He returned to New Bedford as a Guidance counsellor for a short time and then relocated to Maryland, where he remained for 30 years, first as a probation officer at the Superior Court in DC, and then a long career working for the US Government, retiring as a Senior Intelligence Analyst at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.[6]

After retirement he returned to New Bedford. In 2009 he was invited to join the Board of Trustees at Boston College, and served from 2010 to 2011.[7]

Francis died on July 27 2011 at the age of 56.[17][6]

Legacy

In 2008 Francis co-organized "Reconnect" at Boston College, the first AHANA (African, Hispanic/Latino, Asian and Native American alumni) reunion.[7] He remained active in the organization until his death/[18][19]

He was a member of the Boston College Board of Trustees 2010–2011.[7]

Awards and honors
  • 1972: Southeastern Massachusetts District Board of Basketball Officials, "Large school Most Valuable Player"[6]
  • 1972: Massachusetts State Champion and New England Champion 880 Yd. Run
  • 1974–1976: NCAA All-American (seven times)
  • 1981: Hall of Fame Inductee, BC Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame[20]
  • 2007: Hall of Fame Inductee, Massachusetts State Coaches Association [2]
  • 2013: New Bedford Track at the Andrea McCoy Recreation center was renamed "Keith Francis Memorial Track"[21]

References
  1. "The Heights, Volume LIV, Number 26 — 8 April 1974 — Boston College Newspapers". newspapers.bc.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  2. "MTSCA.org | Hall of fame". mstca.org. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  3. "History of US Nationals Results: 800 Meters - Men". Track & Field News. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  4. "1975 PanAm Games Track results" (PDF). atfs.org.
  5. "Track and Field News" (PDF). Track and Field News.
  6. PIERCE, JONATHAN. "Greatness came in all fields for Keith Francis". southcoasttoday.com. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  7. "Track Legend Keith Francis '76 Passes Away". Boston College Athletics. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  8. "NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships History ::: USTFCCCA". Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  9. "NCAA DI Indoor Championships 1974 - Results". MileSplit Michigan. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  10. "1974 NCAA Div 1 Track & Field Championship results". dx.doi.org. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  11. "NCAA DI Indoor Championships 1975 - Results". MileSplit Michigan. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  12. "1975 NCAA Outdoor track results" (PDF). Track & Field News.
  13. "Pan Am Games Track results" (PDF). atfs.org.
  14. "Pan-American Games ::: USTFCCCA InfoZone: Meet History ::: USTFCCCA". Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  15. "NCAA DI Indoor Championships 1976 - Results". MileSplit Michigan. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  16. "1976 US Olympic Trials Track & Field Results" (PDF). Track & Field news.
  17. CurrentObituary.com. "Keith A. Francis - Obituary - New Bedford, MA - Saunders-Dwyer Funeral Homes | CurrentObituary.com". www.currentobituary.com. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  18. "RECONNECT III - Alumni & Friends - Boston College". www.bc.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  19. "Track Legend Keith Francis '76 Passes Away". Boston College Athletics. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  20. "Keith Francis (1981) - Varsity Club Hall of Fame". Boston College Athletics. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  21. WITTENBERG, ARIEL. "Andrea McCoy Athletic Field named in swift Whaler's honor". southcoasttoday.com. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
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