Francis was born in Thorp, Wisconsin, 5 January 1931. He earned a B.A. from St. John's University, Collegeville, in 1953, and an M.S. from St. Cloud State University in 1968. He taught English at Foley High School from 1955-1959 and he joined the faculty at St. Cloud State University in 1959. He has taught in the fields of English and Journalism, and in 1985 became the chairman of the Mass Communications Department.
From the description of Papers of Francis and Ludmila Voelker, 1969-1978. (Lee-Itawamba Library). WorldCat record id: 16935254