Daniel Ricardo Francis was born in Jacksonville, Florida, to the Reverend and Mrs. Richmond Francis on July 8, 1911. He was the youngest of five children. He attended public school in Jacksonville and graduated from Staton High School where he served as class president from the ninth through twelfth grade. He entered Edward Waters Junior College and graduated as class president.

In 1937, Mr. Francis earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida Agricultural and Manufacturing University (Florida A&M University, FAMU) in Tallahassee, and in 1954 he earned a Masters degree in Guidance from New York University.

On August 14,1939, Daniel married his college sweetheart, Susie Beatrice West, from Tampa, Florida. They then moved to Miami, Florida.

Shortly after graduating Florida A&M Daniel went to work as a printer for the Miami Journal. Two years later he became editor of the Dispatch, whose publisher was influential civic activist James E. Scott. He became publisher when Scott died in 1948. He dedicated his efforts at the Dispatch to educating the white and black communities about the plight of Black Miami during segregation. He also hosted the first regularly schedualed black affairs radio show in Miami.

In 1949, Dan Francis became the first of two black coordinators of Diversified Cooperative Training in Dade County. Working at Dorsey and Jackson High Schools, he was responsible for placing black jobs throughout the city. His efforts at training and encouraging black youth resulted in many job placements.

Mr. Francis was a member of Greater Bethal AME Church for thirty-four years. For nineteen years he was a dedicated member and stewart at St. James AME Church. Dan Francis was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., former president of Kappa Delta Pi Honorary Society, former Vice-President of Dade-County Retired teachers Association, King of Clubs, Inc., and a former member of the Masons, Elks and Shriners. He was also honored as an originator and one of the first chairmen of the Miami-Dade Model Cities Program. Mr. Francis passed away on April 25,1990.

Source for biographical history: collection (funeral program and obituary)