1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Dr. Norman C. Francis Congressional Gold Medal Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Dr. Norman Christopher Francis was born in Lafayette, LA, on March 20, 1931, to Joseph A. Francis and Mabel F. Francis. His parents were a barber and a homemaker, and he had a Catholic education at St. Paul Catholic elementary and secondary schools in Lafayette. (2) After graduation, Francis attended Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. (3) An honor student all four years at Xavier University of Louisiana, young Norman Francis conducted his work scholarship repairing damaged books in the university library. In his senior year, he was elected student body president. (4) From 1952–1955, Francis attended Loyola University Law School in New Orleans, where he earned his Juris Doctorate. He made history as the first Black graduate of Loyola University Law School in 1955. (5) Upon graduation he married the late Mrs. Blanche Macdonald, but then was drafted into the United States Army’s Third Armored Division, where he earned the rank of corporal specialist four. After a two-year tour of duty, Francis left the Army in 1957 and began his civilian career. (6) Upon his return from the military, he joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office and worked to help integrate Federal agencies. (7) Dr. Francis used his law degree to represent civil rights activists as a young lawyer. One of his clients was Xavier student body president, Rudolph Lombard, who had been arrested for attempting to integrate the lunch counter at McCrory’s on Canal Street in New Orleans. (8) As Dean of Men at Xavier University of Louisiana in 1961, he showed his moral courage and vision by housing the Freedom Riders in the historic St. Michael’s dormitory when the rest of New Orleans establishments had closed their doors to them or openly threatened their safety. (9) In 1963, he became Director of Student Personnel Services and one year later (1964) he was