Terry Francois facts for kids
Terry A. Francois (born around 1922 – died June 9, 1989) was an important African American lawyer, civil rights leader, and politician. He worked hard to make things fair for everyone. He led the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in San Francisco. He also made history as the first African American to join the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, which is like a city council.
A Life of Service
Terry Francois was born in New Orleans. He went to Xavier University and finished in 1940. Later, he earned a master's degree in business from Atlanta University.
During World War II, Francois served in the United States Marine Corps. He was a platoon sergeant, leading groups of soldiers.
After the war, Francois moved to San Francisco. He studied law at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He became a lawyer in 1949.
Francois spoke out against unfair housing rules that affected Black people. He became the president of the NAACP in San Francisco. He also helped the San Francisco Urban League. As a lawyer, he helped many people.
In 1964, Mayor John Shelley chose Francois to join the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. This made him the first African American to serve on the board. He was then elected by voters in 1967. He was re-elected two more times, in 1971 and 1975.
In 1978, San Francisco changed how it elected supervisors. They started electing them by specific areas, called districts. Francois then decided to leave the board and go back to being a private lawyer.
In 1988, he changed from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. He supported George H. W. Bush in the 1988 presidential election.
Terry Francois passed away from cancer on June 9, 1989, at 67 years old.
Family Life
Terry Francois married Marion Le Blanc in 1947. They had five children together: four sons and one daughter. He also had eight grandchildren.
He was a Catholic and helped lead a group called the Catholic Interracial Council in San Francisco.
Different Ideas and Views
After the main Civil Rights Movement ended, some people had different ideas about how to achieve social change. Terry Francois was sometimes seen as having a more calm approach to solving problems. Some people felt he focused more on working with the city's leaders. Others believed he should have pushed harder for specific Black community causes. These different views showed how people had various strategies for making progress.
Lasting Impact
A street in San Francisco's Mission Bay neighborhood is named after him. It is called Terry A. Francois Boulevard, honoring his contributions to the city.
