Francis B. Francois
Encyclopedia
Francis Bernard "Frank" Francois (born 1934) is an American
engineer
and lawyer
who has received recognition for his achievements in the field of engineering
and policy leadership in surface transportation infrastructure
and research. In 1999, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering
.
, Webster County, Iowa
and graduated from Iowa State University
with a bachelor's degree
in engineering in 1956. He moved to Washington, D.C.
and began his career in 1956 as a Patent Examiner in the U.S. Patent Office
. He enrolled in night law school at The George Washington University, and earned a law degree in 1960. Francois become a patent advisor for the Applied Physics Laboratory
at Johns Hopkins University
in 1959. He was admitted to the Maryland bar in 1960, and practiced patent and trademark law with the firm of Bacon and Thomas from 1962 until 1980.
Francois became an Elected Official
in Prince George's County, Maryland
, in 1962, serving first as Chief Judge
of the Orphan’s Court, then a County Commissioner. After the county changed from a County Commissioner to a County Council system, he served 10 years as a member of the County Council. In this post, he represented Prince George's County on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
boards, among many other posts. He chaired the Joint Policy Steering Committee on the Washington Metro
Alternatives Analysis Project. Nationally, he was twice elected President of the National Association of Regional Councils and in 1979–1980 was President of the National Association of Counties. In 1980, he resigned from the County Council to become Executive Director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) where he remained until his retirement in 1999.
In addition to leading AASHTO, Francois supported the transportation profession in many ways, including serving on the Executive Committee of the Transportation Research Board
(TRB). He also served on many TRB committees, including the Task Force on Critical Transportation Infrastructure and the Committee for Study of a Future Strategic Highway Research Program. He was instrumental in establishing the original Strategic Highway Research Program and was one of the cofounders of ITS America
where he served a term as its Chair and is now an honorary life member of its Board. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Cambridge Systematics Inc. He has also served on the Board of Directors for such transportation organizations as the International Road Federation
and the World Road Association
.
as a Washingtonian of the Year
In 1989 Francois received TRB’s W.N. Carey Jr. Award for his leadership in supporting transportation research. In 1993, he received the prestigious Institute of Transportation Engineers
Theodore M. Matson Memorial Award. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1999. In 2003, he received the Marston Medal from Iowa State University. In 2004 he was named by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association
as one of the top 100 private-sector design and construction professionals in the U.S. in the 20th Century. In 2007, Francois was the recipient of TRB's Frank Turner Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Transportation.
In 2000, AASHTO created the Francis B. Francois Award for Innovation.
as a legal move in college basketball, after it had been banned in 1967.
Many claim the no dunk rule was implemented to keep Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
from dominating the college game, but John Wooden
said, in an interview to the UCLA student daily paper, "(Alcindor) didn't cause the change. The NCAA Rules Committee outlawed the dunk because of hanging on the rim, rims bending back, boards breaking and glass down." With the advent of the break-away basketball goal, this was no longer an issue.
The invention is now in widespread use in the NBA, NCAA and in high schools and playgrounds around the world.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who has received recognition for his achievements in the field of engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
and policy leadership in surface transportation infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
and research. In 1999, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
.
Career
Francois grew up on a farm in BarnumBarnum, Iowa
Barnum is a city in Webster County, Iowa, United States located just off U.S. Route 7. The population was 195 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Barnum is located at ....
, Webster County, Iowa
Webster County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 38,013 in the county, with a population density of . There were 17,035 housing units, of which 15,580 were occupied.-2000 census:...
and graduated from Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in engineering in 1956. He moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and began his career in 1956 as a Patent Examiner in the U.S. Patent Office
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification.The USPTO is based in Alexandria, Virginia,...
. He enrolled in night law school at The George Washington University, and earned a law degree in 1960. Francois become a patent advisor for the Applied Physics Laboratory
Applied Physics Laboratory
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory , located in Howard County, Maryland near Laurel and Columbia, is a not-for-profit, university-affiliated research center employing 4,500 people. APL is primarily a defense contractor. It serves as a technical resource for the Department of...
at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1959. He was admitted to the Maryland bar in 1960, and practiced patent and trademark law with the firm of Bacon and Thomas from 1962 until 1980.
Francois became an Elected Official
Official
An official is someone who holds an office in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority .A government official or functionary is an official who is involved in public...
in Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, in 1962, serving first as Chief Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the Orphan’s Court, then a County Commissioner. After the county changed from a County Commissioner to a County Council system, he served 10 years as a member of the County Council. In this post, he represented Prince George's County on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is a regional organization of Washington area local governments. MWCOG comprises 21 local governments in the Washington Metropolitan Area, as well as area members of the Maryland and Virginia state legislatures, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House...
and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is a tri-jurisdictional government agency that operates transit service in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess...
boards, among many other posts. He chaired the Joint Policy Steering Committee on the Washington Metro
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
Alternatives Analysis Project. Nationally, he was twice elected President of the National Association of Regional Councils and in 1979–1980 was President of the National Association of Counties. In 1980, he resigned from the County Council to become Executive Director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) where he remained until his retirement in 1999.
In addition to leading AASHTO, Francois supported the transportation profession in many ways, including serving on the Executive Committee of the Transportation Research Board
Transportation Research Board
The Transportation Research Board is a division of the National Research Council, which serves as an independent adviser to the President, the Congress and federal agencies on scientific and technical questions of national importance...
(TRB). He also served on many TRB committees, including the Task Force on Critical Transportation Infrastructure and the Committee for Study of a Future Strategic Highway Research Program. He was instrumental in establishing the original Strategic Highway Research Program and was one of the cofounders of ITS America
ITS America
Intelligent Transportation Society of America was established in 1991 as a not-for-profit organization to foster the use of advanced technologies in surface transportation systems...
where he served a term as its Chair and is now an honorary life member of its Board. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Cambridge Systematics Inc. He has also served on the Board of Directors for such transportation organizations as the International Road Federation
International Road Federation
The International Road Federation is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization that promotes the development and maintenance of roads, with a focus on safety and sustainability. The organization has two key functions, providing expertise on road issues to governments and financial...
and the World Road Association
World Road Association
The World Road Association is an international forum for the discussion of all aspects of roads and road networks.Though established principally for professionals in its 142 member countries round the world, it also provides an illuminating view of the policies and trends that affect all road users...
.
Awards and honors
In 1973, Francois was recognized by Washingtonian MagazineWashingtonian (magazine)
Washingtonian is a monthly magazine distributed in the Washington, DC area since 1965. The magazine describes itself as "the magazine Washington lives by." The magazine's core focuses are local feature journalism, guide book-style articles, and real estate advice.-Editorial Content:Washingtonian...
as a Washingtonian of the Year
In 1989 Francois received TRB’s W.N. Carey Jr. Award for his leadership in supporting transportation research. In 1993, he received the prestigious Institute of Transportation Engineers
Institute of Transportation Engineers
The Institute of Transportation Engineers or ITE is an international educational and scientific association of transportation professionals who are responsible for meeting mobility and safety needs. ITE was founded in 1930 as the Institute of Traffic Engineers and its first president was Ernest P...
Theodore M. Matson Memorial Award. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1999. In 2003, he received the Marston Medal from Iowa State University. In 2004 he was named by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association
American Road and Transportation Builders Association
Established in 1902, the Washington, D.C.-based American Road & Transportation Builders Association advocates strong investment in transportation infrastructure to meet public demand for a safe and efficient business transportation network....
as one of the top 100 private-sector design and construction professionals in the U.S. in the 20th Century. In 2007, Francois was the recipient of TRB's Frank Turner Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Transportation.
In 2000, AASHTO created the Francis B. Francois Award for Innovation.
Patents and Basketball
Francois was also the patent attorney for two boyhood friends, Paul D. Estlund and Kenneth F. Estlund, who received U.S. Patent 4,534,556 for a break-away basketball goal. He has written a book about the experience of acquiring the patent for the invention that saved many basketball courts from having broken backboard or bent rims. The invention also likely made it easier for the NCAA to decide on the re-introduction of the slam dunkSlam dunk
A slam dunk is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball downward through the basket with one or both hands over the rim. This is considered a normal field goal attempt; if successful it is worth two points. The term "slam dunk" was...
as a legal move in college basketball, after it had been banned in 1967.
Many claim the no dunk rule was implemented to keep Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
from dominating the college game, but John Wooden
John Wooden
John Robert Wooden was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period — seven in a row — as head coach at UCLA, an unprecedented feat. Within this period, his teams won a record 88 consecutive games...
said, in an interview to the UCLA student daily paper, "(Alcindor) didn't cause the change. The NCAA Rules Committee outlawed the dunk because of hanging on the rim, rims bending back, boards breaking and glass down." With the advent of the break-away basketball goal, this was no longer an issue.
The invention is now in widespread use in the NBA, NCAA and in high schools and playgrounds around the world.
External links
- http://hdl.handle.net/1903.1/1411 Papers of Francis Francois, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries
- http://www.aashto.org AASHTO
- http://www.baconthomas.com Bacon and Thomas
- http://www.camsys.com/ab_leader.htm#francois Cambridge Systematics Inc.
- http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=37&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=4,534,556&OS=4,534,556&RS=4,534,556 U.S. Patent 4,534,556 For A Break-Away Basketball Goal
- http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615183425 Francois, Francis B. (2008) Two Guys From Barnum, Iowa And How They Helped Save Basketball : A History Of U.S. Patent 4,534,556 : Paul D. Estlund And Kenneth F. Estlund, Inventors (ISBN 978-0615183428)