Chadron State College Athletics

A graduate of Douglas High School at Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City, S.D., Francis was a four-year starter for the CSC football teams in the late 1960s. He earned all-district honors at offensive tackle as a senior in 1969, but was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the spring of 1970 as a defensive lineman. He received a $3,000 bonus that he used to purchase a new Chevrolet automobile.
Unfortunately, Francis was drafted by the wrong team. The Vikings’ “Purple People Eaters”  were having a hey-day in the NFL then and were well-stocked with defensive linemen suche as Carl Eller, Jim Marshall and Allen Page. He later played with a semi pro team in Omaha.
A big (6-foot-5, 230 pounds), gifted athlete, Francis also was an outstanding thrower for the track and field team, although he did not participate in the sport as a senior. He won the discus at the Nebraska College Conference Meet in both 1966 and ’67, and set the conference record of 164-2 the second year. He also won the shot put title in 1969.
Francis has been a marketing representative for Xerox, Western Business Resources and South Dakota Gaming. He lives in Rapid City.