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Funeral arrangements are pending for Dr. Norman Francis, the former president of Xavier University, who died Wednesday at age 94.
Francis led Xavier University, the only historically black Catholic university in the nation, for nearly 50 years. On his watch, the university became a leader in medical education.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno praised his "commitment to civil rights, educational opportunity and human dignity."
Francis was prominent in the civil rights movement, as well as recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina.
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