Fort Lewis College Athletics

Francis Grant was the first of many great African-American student-athletes to attend Fort Lewis College — not an easy role for any 18-year-old to fill. A hard-working, quiet, personable young man, Grant was liked and respected by his fellow students.

As a basketball player, he led the Aggies and ranked among Empire Conference leaders in shooting percentage and scoring in 1958-59. A team leader on the court, he earned all-conference honors for the Aggies.

Grant took his skills and work ethic to the University of New Mexico, where he became one of UNM's top 10 career scoring leaders. While at New Mexico, Grant focused his skills on sociology and education, earning a bachelor's degree. He later earned a doctorate in elementary urban education and administration from Michigan State in 1972.

Grant spent nearly 25 years in education from elementary school counselor to college professor at the College of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas and at Southern Illinois.

Grant was employed by Snowden Enterprise, served on the company's board of directors and wrote an assortment of management programs.

He currently resides in Walnut, Calif.