Amadeo Francis

Primarily known as a 400 hurdler, Amadeo Francis ran that event at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics, also serving as a reserve in the 4x400 both years. Francis finished fourth in the 400 hurdles at the 1955 Pan American Games and competed at two editions of the Central American and Caribbean Games.

Francis graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, then earned a masters’ degree in economics from the London School of Economics. Returning to the University of Puerto Rico in 1959, he added a Master of Public Administration degree.

Francis quickly rose to become Director of the Office of Economic Research and then Executive Assistant to the head of Economic Development Administration of Puerto Rico from 1963-67. He served as Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association from 1967-73 and was Deputy Administrator of the Continental and Overseas Operations of the Puerto Rico Economic Development Administration in New York from 1973-77.

Francis served successively as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hy-Gain of Puerto Rico from 1977-78, as Vice President of Corporate Finance of The Securities Corporation of Puerto Rico in San Juan in 1978-79, and then became Commissioner of Commerce for the United States Virgin Islands from 1979-83. From 1983-85 he was President of Commonwealth Economic Development Associates in San Juan, and then held the post as Economic Development Advisor to the Governor of Puerto Rico in 1985-89. From 1989-92 Francis was Deputy Secretary of State for Puerto Rico, while from 1993-2000 he served as Director of the Virgin Islands Public Finance Administration.

In sports administration, Francis was on the council of the IAAF (now World Athletics) and was a vice-president of the IAAF. He served as President of the North America, Central America, and Caribbean Area Association of the IAAF for two decades, and was a President of the Pan American Athletics Commission.

For his many political and administrative posts, Francis earned many honors. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Puerto Rico Sports in 1980, was a recipient of the Veterans Award, the Plaque of Merit and the Silver (1996) and Gold (2008) Order of Merit from the IAAF/World Athletics, and received awards from the South American Athletics Confederation in 1978 and 1988.

Personal Best: 400H – 53.3 (1954).