Born in
New Orleans, Francois obtained his bachelor's degree from
Xavier University in 1940. He attended
Atlanta University, where he earned a master's degree in business. Francois joined the
United States Marine Corps, serving as a
platoon sergeant in
World War II. After the war, Francois moved to
San Francisco, where he attended the
University of California, Hastings College of the Law and received his law degree in 1949. Francois protested unfair practices against Blacks in housing. He also served on the board of the San Francisco Urban League. In private practice, Francois represented Margherite Mays, the wife of
Willie Mays. Francois was named to the
San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1964 by
Mayor John Shelley, Francois resigned his supervisor post in 1978 to return to private practice. In 1988, he left the
Democratic Party, registering with the
Republican Party and endorsing
George H. W. Bush in the
1988 United States presidential election. He died of cancer on June 9, 1989, at the age of 67. ==Personal life==