Francis attended Doron Elementary School in Wilkes-Barre and graduated from G. A.R. Memorial High School in 1965. While in high school he was on the wrestling team and also played football. In wrestling, he was a 4-year letter winner, 4-time city champion, 4-time District Place winner, 2-time District champion, and 2-time Northeastern Regional Champion. He was state champion in 1965 at 138 pounds. He was a George Hooper Award Winner as Outstanding Wrestler in Wyoming Valley. He was team captain in his junior and senior years and the 1965 wrestling team won the Wyoming Valley Conference Championship under the coaching of Al Sallitt. In football, Francis was a 3-year letter winner at center, coaches All-Scholastic team, and was captain in his senior year. His football coaches were Luther Richards and Chet Wasilewski. Francis served one year as athletic director at CYC, taught three years at Bishop Hoban (member of 1st faculty), 1st wrestling coach at Bishop Hoban. In the Wilkes-Barre area, he taught three years in elementary school, and in 1974 joined the faculty at G.A.R. Memorial High School. He coached the junior high wrestling, varsity cross country team which won the Wyoming Valley conference, coached girls’ volleyball which won a District championship. He has been a high school and collegiate baseball official for fifteen years; high school football official from 1971 to the present; high school and collegiate wrestling 1971 to present; 4-time official at state wrestling championships; 15- time official at NCAA Division I qualifying tournaments; 2-time official at NCAA championships-Iowa State and Oklahoma State; and 5-time official at National Collegiate Team Tournament Championships. He is also Regional Director for American Legion Sports Activities and a member of Pennsylvania State American Legion Sports Hall of Fame. He is the son of the late John and Nora Michael. Francis is married to the former Marie Tirpak and they are the parents of five children, David, Renee, Christina, Janna, and Ellen.