Richard "Dick" Francis

Dick was born in Missoula, Montana on August 28, 1943 to James Henry Francis and Emma Sophia Bryce, the younger of two boys. The family made their home in Plains, Montana near the family lumber mill. After they moved to Austin in the post-war period, Dicky began school in the Austin ISD, eventually meeting Jimmie Sue Riely in the 7th grade at Fulmore Junior High. Dicky was interested in many extracurricular activities throughout his Junior High and High School years – including playing trombone in the marching band, writing a humorous column in the Travis High School paper, and serving on multiple student councils. He was crowned "King of Travis High School" his senior year, was Co-Captain of the Travis Rebel Football team and President of his Senior class. Dicky's favorite subject, however, was being the boyfriend of Jimmie Sue, who he wooed in their last years at Travis.

After accepting a Navy ROTC scholarship, Dick began his studies in Mathematics at The University of Texas-Austin, eventually graduating with an MBA in Statistics in 1966. Dick and Jimmie Sue married in the summer of 1963 and lived at the Brackenridge student housing apartments, making lifelong friends with the other married couples on campus.

Dick went straight from UT to accepting a job with Humble Oil, and his career took the family to many locales over the next 11 years, including Dallas, Houston, Baltimore and Philadelphia. Son Riely was born in Houston in 1967, and the family was complete in 1971 with the birth of Anne in Baltimore. In 1976, they moved to Spring, Texas, where Dick said "no more" to the corporate shuffle and the family took root for the next 26 years. Dick eventually rose to the ranks of Controller for Exxon's Refinery Division and eventually for SeaRiver Maritime. His legacy includes the hundreds of recruits he mentored, being known by new employees as "Father Francis" for his willingness to lend an ear or give advice on their careers.

Dick and Jimmie Sue formed a strong bond with their friends in Candlelight Hills, playing many rounds of tennis at the neighborhood clubhouse and Dick serving as president of the Civic Association. He was an active parent in the Klein Oak High School Band Boosters, and Speech & Debate club, and manned many a snack bar during CHL Cudas swim meets.

In 1999, Dick retired after 32 years with Exxon/Sea River Maritime and he and Jimmie Sue settled in their beloved South Austin in 2001. In Austin, Dick found renewed purpose in his advocacy for the LGBTQ community, working with the First United Methodist Reconciling Ministries and later for the No Nonsense in November campaign, fighting for marriage equality and touring Texas as a spokesperson with Jimmie Sue, her sister Alice Parrish and Alice's husband Jerry. Dick also served as a founding member of the Forum on the Military Chaplaincy, which is devoted to a religiously diverse and socially responsible chaplaincy, and greatly helped integrate LGBTQ Americans into the US Military. He became known as a fierce ally of the LGBTQ community, testifying twice before the Texas Legislature in advocacy of equality for all. All his life, he loved and admired strong women of consequence---Hillary Clinton, Ann Richards, Molly Ivins, Wendy Davis, and of course, his beloved Jimmie Sue.

Throughout his life, Dick enjoyed the open road and embarked on many cross-country trips, to see Anne, Riely, and loved ones on both coasts and in Hawaii. He especially loved driving to see uncles, aunts and cousins in Big Sky country Montana and the Pacific Northwest. He served on the Appraisal Review Board of Travis County, and the board of the Spicewood Art Society. Dick's iconic, unabashed promotion of Tito's Vodka, to any and all who might listen, reflected his deep pride in Austin and his joy that the world now loved the Capitol City as much as he did. As with many Austinites, the 2005 UT Football National Championship was a distinct point of pride. Dick was a passionate thinker and writer, who enjoyed sparring with a wide circle of family and friends on all subjects, always with the intent of widening the circle of inclusion and equality. An e-mail from Dick was often a spur to a newly formed awareness of a particular social injustice or wrong that needed action to be righted. He set an example for his ability to listen closely, and his capacity for empathy. He knew that thoughtful contemplation was best tempered by a hearty and bold sense of humor, and that the two were not exclusive, but rather enhanced one another. He was a beautiful man, and we will miss him greatly.

Dick was preceded in death by his father and mother, James and Emma Francis. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jimmie Sue Francis; son, Riely Francis, and his partner Kyle Odom, of San Antonio; daughter, Anne Francis, and her husband, Craig Simmons, of Seattle; brother, Bob Francis, of El Segundo, CA; niece Acia Jernigan, of La Verne, CA; uncle Millar Bryce, of Plains, MT; sister-in-law Alice Parrish, of Austin, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 26, 6-8 PM, at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 North Lamar Blvd., Austin. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, August 27, at 2 PM, at the First United Methodist Church, 1201 Lavaca St., Austin. The family wishes to express their gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff of St. David's South, Texas NeuroRehab and Brookdale Westlake Hills for the attention and care to Dick in recent months, and to Dick's lifelong friend, David Orton, for his support. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church attn: Dick Francis Fund