Keith Francis (runner)

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

Keith Francis
Francis at 1976 BC Relays (Photo by Jack McDonald)
Born1955 (1955)
New Bedford, Massachusetts
DiedJuly 27, 2011 (2011-07-28) (aged 55)
New Bedford, Massachusetts
Alma mater
  • Boston College, BA, Lynch School of Education
  • Boston University, Masters Degree
Occupation(s)Intelligence Analyst, ATF
Known forWorld class middle-distance runner
Children3

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 to compete in the 1974 and 1975 US National Track and Field Championships[3] and the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City.[4] His National and World rankings gave him the opportunity to participate in many international meets during that time.[5] After his senior year at BC, Francis was invited to the 1976 Olympic trials for the 800M. He progressed through the preliminary heats and made it to the final, finishing 8th.[6]

ESPN's Track & Field analyst Larry Rawson declared Keith Francis Track Career as "the greatest Boston College has ever seen"[7] He is on the "BC All-Time Greatest Athletes" list.[8]

Meet City Event Place Time Notes
1974 NCAA Div 1 Indoor Track & Field Championships[9][10] Detroit, Michigan 1,000 yd 2nd 2:08.40 NCAA All-American
1974 NCAA Div 1 Outdoor Track & Field Championships[11] Austin,

Texas

 880 Yd 2nd 1:49.00 NCAA All-American
1974 US National Track & Field Championships [3] Westwood, California 800 yd 5th 1:46.20
1975 NCAA Div 1 Indoor Track & Field Championships [9][12] Detroit, Michigan 1,000 yd 1st 2:08.40 NCAA All-American and National Champion
1975 NCAA Div 1 Outdoor Track & Field Championships[13] Provo,

Utah

 880 Yd 4th 1:48.43 NCAA All-American
1975 US National Track & Field Championships [3] Eugene, Oregon 800 M 4th 1:46.18
1975 Pan Am Games[14][15] Mexico City 800 M 7th 1:49.30
1976 NCAA Div 1 Indoor Track & Field Championships [9][16] Detroit, Michigan 1,000 yd 2nd 2:07.68 NCAA All-American
1976 Olympic Trials[17] Eugene, Oregon 800 M 8th 1:48.07
Keith Francis at the 800 M final: 1976 Olympic Trials

School Records[18][19][20]

Outdoor Records Time Indoor Records Time
800 M 1:46.18 800 M 1:50.2
Mile 4:00.8 1,000 M 2:22.4
4 X 800 M Relay

(Vercallone, Lowell, Goggin, Francis)

 7:29.2 4 X 400 M Relay

(Collins, Trovato, Fitzmaurice, Francis)

 3:18.0
Sprint Medley Relay

(Trovato, Green, Hazzard, Francis)

 3:19.5 4 X 800 M Relay

(Vercallone, Lowell, Goggin, Francis)

 7:28.3

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 master's 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.[5]

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 of cancer on July 27, 2011, in his home town of New Bedford, at the age of 56.[21][5]

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.[22][23]

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

The Keith Francis Memorial Scholarship was established in 2013. Multiple scholarships are awarded to local college-bound graduates from New Bedford who embody "Community service, Education and Achievement".[24]

Awards and honors
  • 1972: Southeastern Massachusetts District Board of Basketball Officials, "Large school Most Valuable Player"[5]
  • 1972: Massachusetts State Champion and New England Champion 880 Yd
  • 1974–1976: NCAA All-American (seven times), NCAA National Champion, 1000M (1975)
  • 1981: Hall of Fame Inductee, BC Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame[25]
  • 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"[26]

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. PIERCE, JONATHAN. "Greatness came in all fields for Keith Francis". southcoasttoday.com. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  6. "Track and Field News" (PDF). Track and Field News.
  7. "Track Legend Keith Francis '76 Passes Away". Boston College Athletics. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  8. "BC's 25 All-Time Greatest Athletes". www.bc.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  9. "NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships History ::: USTFCCCA". Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  10. "NCAA DI Indoor Championships 1974 - Results". MileSplit Michigan. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  11. "1974 NCAA Div 1 Track & Field Championship results". dx.doi.org. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  12. "NCAA DI Indoor Championships 1975 - Results". MileSplit Michigan. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  13. "1975 NCAA Outdoor track results" (PDF). Track & Field News.
  14. "Pan Am Games Track results" (PDF). atfs.org.
  15. "Pan-American Games ::: USTFCCCA InfoZone: Meet History ::: USTFCCCA". Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  16. "NCAA DI Indoor Championships 1976 - Results". MileSplit Michigan. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  17. "1976 US Olympic Trials Track & Field Results" (PDF). Track & Field news.
  18. "BCTF Men's Indoor All-Time Performers". Google Docs. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  19. "Indoor Records". Boston College Men's Track & Field. 2017-03-27. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  20. "Outdoor Records". Boston College Men's Track & Field. 2014-03-27. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  21. CurrentObituary.com. "Keith A. Francis - Obituary - New Bedford, MA - Saunders-Dwyer Funeral Homes | CurrentObituary.com". www.currentobituary.com. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  22. "RECONNECT III - Alumni & Friends - Boston College". www.bc.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  23. "Track Legend Keith Francis '76 Passes Away". Boston College Athletics. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  24. "Keith A. Francis Memorial Scholarship, Inc". Retrieved 2021-03-21.
  25. "Keith Francis (1981) - Varsity Club Hall of Fame". Boston College Athletics. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  26. WITTENBERG, ARIEL. "Andrea McCoy Athletic Field named in swift Whaler's honor". southcoasttoday.com. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
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