Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 15, 1931, he was the son of Francis Sr. and Helen Sorum. He proudly served in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953. He graduated with a MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology in June of 1985.
He worked in the Engineering field with RCA, Lockhead Martin during the height of the Space Race. He concluded his work in this area as head of tracking of the shuttle program on the East Coast.
He is survived by three children: Michael Francis Sorum, Patrick Joseph Sorum, and Colleen Helen Jackson; five grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.