Posted: Apr 11, 2012
Francis officially inducted into NAIA Hall of Fame
Rio Grande Sports Information
RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Former University of Rio Grande basketball standout Clarence "Bevo" Francis was officially inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame last month prior to the start of the Men's Division I Basketball National Tournament in Kansas City, Mo.
Unfortunately, illness prevented Francis - who was selected to the Hall in the Meritorious Service category for men's basketball - from making the trip to receive the honor in person. URG Athletic Director Jeff Lanham received the award in Francis' honor. "It's taken many years for the NAIA to recognize the things that Bevo accomplished in college basketball, but they've done the right thing," Lanham said. "Thanks to John McCarthy from the NAIA, they made the right decision and Bevo is now - and forever will be - in the NAIA Hall of Fame."
Francis, a 6-foot-9 center from Wellsville, Ohio, put himself - and the University of Rio Grande - in the national spotlight over a span of two memorable seasons in which he all but rewrote both the NAIA and NCAA record books. The NAIA recognizes all of the games that Rio Grande played in determining Francis' records, while the NCAA only acknowledged games played against four-year degree-granting institutions.
During the 1952-53 campaign, Francis led the then-Redmen to a perfect 39-0 record and scored a record 116 points in a 150-85 win over Ashland (Ky.) Junior College on January 9, 1953.
He finished the season with four new NAIA single-season marks - scoring average (50.1), points (1,954), field goals (708) and free throws (538) - and was named an All-American pick by the Associated Press, United Press International and the Helms Foundation.
The following season, Francis set the single game points record recognized by the NCAA and the NAIA with 113 in a 134-91 triumph over Hillsdale (Mich.) College on February 2, 1954. His scoring average of 48.3 points per game also established an NCAA record.
The Redmen finished the '53-54 campaign at 21-7 and were ranked among the nation's top 20 teams, playing a schedule which included the likes of Villanova, Providence, Miami-Fla., North Carolina State, Wake Forest and Arizona State.
Francis, who was also among 60 players and 15 coaches named to the NAIA's 75th Anniversary Team, was named a second team AP All-American in 1953-54.
"I tell people it's nice to hear your name mentioned when someone talks about the school, but it was always more about the team than anything else," Francis said in an interview last November. "I could've stood out there and not scored two points if I didn't have my teammates."
Lanham also pointed to the significance of Francis' teammates toward his honor.
"The Hall of Fame award is an honor to Bevo, his teammates and the University of Rio Grande. We can't thank these individuals enough for being a great part of the history of this institution," he said. "What happened at Rio Grande almost 60 years ago will never happen again. Bevo turned the world of college basketball on its ear. It is fitting for the game's greatest scorer to be a part of the NAIA Hall of Fame - it's the highest award given in the organization. Bevo Francis and those Rio Grande basketball teams deserve to be a part of basketball history."
Francis' picture appeared on the cover of the tournament program. He was one of 18 individuals selected for induction this year.
The Hall of Fame consists of a division for each sport currently or formerly sponsored by the associated and a division for general meritorious service to the NAIA. The Hall is divided into three categories - athlete, coach and meritorious service.
RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Former University of Rio Grande basketball standout Clarence "Bevo" Francis was officially inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame last month prior to the start of the Men's Division I Basketball National Tournament in Kansas City, Mo.
Unfortunately, illness prevented Francis - who was selected to the Hall in the Meritorious Service category for men's basketball - from making the trip to receive the honor in person. URG Athletic Director Jeff Lanham received the award in Francis' honor. "It's taken many years for the NAIA to recognize the things that Bevo accomplished in college basketball, but they've done the right thing," Lanham said. "Thanks to John McCarthy from the NAIA, they made the right decision and Bevo is now - and forever will be - in the NAIA Hall of Fame."
Francis, a 6-foot-9 center from Wellsville, Ohio, put himself - and the University of Rio Grande - in the national spotlight over a span of two memorable seasons in which he all but rewrote both the NAIA and NCAA record books. The NAIA recognizes all of the games that Rio Grande played in determining Francis' records, while the NCAA only acknowledged games played against four-year degree-granting institutions.
During the 1952-53 campaign, Francis led the then-Redmen to a perfect 39-0 record and scored a record 116 points in a 150-85 win over Ashland (Ky.) Junior College on January 9, 1953.
He finished the season with four new NAIA single-season marks - scoring average (50.1), points (1,954), field goals (708) and free throws (538) - and was named an All-American pick by the Associated Press, United Press International and the Helms Foundation.
The following season, Francis set the single game points record recognized by the NCAA and the NAIA with 113 in a 134-91 triumph over Hillsdale (Mich.) College on February 2, 1954. His scoring average of 48.3 points per game also established an NCAA record.
The Redmen finished the '53-54 campaign at 21-7 and were ranked among the nation's top 20 teams, playing a schedule which included the likes of Villanova, Providence, Miami-Fla., North Carolina State, Wake Forest and Arizona State.
Francis, who was also among 60 players and 15 coaches named to the NAIA's 75th Anniversary Team, was named a second team AP All-American in 1953-54.
"I tell people it's nice to hear your name mentioned when someone talks about the school, but it was always more about the team than anything else," Francis said in an interview last November. "I could've stood out there and not scored two points if I didn't have my teammates."
Lanham also pointed to the significance of Francis' teammates toward his honor.
"The Hall of Fame award is an honor to Bevo, his teammates and the University of Rio Grande. We can't thank these individuals enough for being a great part of the history of this institution," he said. "What happened at Rio Grande almost 60 years ago will never happen again. Bevo turned the world of college basketball on its ear. It is fitting for the game's greatest scorer to be a part of the NAIA Hall of Fame - it's the highest award given in the organization. Bevo Francis and those Rio Grande basketball teams deserve to be a part of basketball history."
Francis' picture appeared on the cover of the tournament program. He was one of 18 individuals selected for induction this year.
The Hall of Fame consists of a division for each sport currently or formerly sponsored by the associated and a division for general meritorious service to the NAIA. The Hall is divided into three categories - athlete, coach and meritorious service.