Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1993
- Class:
- 1976
HIGH SCHOOL CAREER: A 1972 graduate of Lorain Catholic High School in Lorain, Ohio…Lettered in basketball and track under coach Jim Lawhead…helped basketball squad to the North Central Championship as a senior…School did not have a track team but Lawhead, who was the school’s athletic director, recognized the talent in Francis and a couple of his classmates and organized a mini-team to compete in the conference meet…Francis captured the high jump title with a record-setting leap of 6’5”…He was the Class A State Champion with a jump of 6’5” as well and set the Ohio Classic Meet record with a jump of 6’7” ¼”…KSU CAREER: Earned his BBA from Kent in 1976…Lettered four times each in indoor and outdoor track (1973-76) for the legendary Doug Raymond…Qualified for the NCAA Championships on several occasions fro the Flashes…Set the school records at 6’10” as a freshman…Became the only Kent high jumper to clear 7’ with his leap at the prestigious Knight’s of Columbus Meet in Cleveland in 1974…Captured MAC championships both indoor and outdoor…Earned All-America Honors by clearing 7’1” at the 1976 NCAA Championships…PERSONAL: Full name is Robert Eugene Francis…Born on January 24, 1954 in Lorain…Is single and is the General Manager for Shermo Industries in Dallas.
