| Henry FRANCIS | |
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Nato a Everett nel Massachusetts nel 1926 è stato editore, giornalista sportivo, articolista di bridge e uno dei migliori direttori di sala americani.
Dopo essersi trasferito a Memphis, da Nathan dove viveva, nell'intorno degli anni '40 è stato per oltre 20 anni editore di tutte le pubblicazioni della Federazione americana e di tre edizione della Encyclopedia of Bridge.
Henry è stato membro onorario dell'ACBL nel 1998, presidente della IBPA nel 1966 ed è anche ricordato come fondatore e, poi, per lunghi anni, editore del New England Bridge Bulletin.
Vedovo di Rose Gaudette, risposato con Dorthy Nelson, ha avuto 5 figli e 5 figliastri.
Come giocatore ha vinto diversi titoli regionali.
Nel 2003 l'ACBL gli ha concesso l'onore di far parte della Hall of Fame.
Henry è scomparso a Memphis il 1 agosto del 2017; era affetto da tempo dal morbo di Parkinson.
One of the most
popular and capable personages to ever grace the ACBL family is Bulletin Editor
Emeritus Henry Francis. As a teenager in the early 1940s living in
Massachusetts, he embarked upon two careers that for six decades would enrich
his own life as well as others with whom he came into contact.
One endeavor was bridge (as a player, tournament reporter, club director and owner, and ACBL tournament director at the sectional, regional and national level). The other was as a journalist.
During his years in Memphis, he edited the monthly ACBL magazine, three editions of The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge, many editions of the World Championship Book, World Championship Bulletins and Daily Bulletins at the North American Bridge Championships for more than 30 years. His association with the World Championships attracted the attention of the world bridge press. Soon thereafter, he was invited to serve in several capacities by both the International Bridge Press Association and the World Bridge Federation.
Henry still can be seen playing in the local and nearby tournaments, an occasional ACBL event and in the weekly Memphis duplicates where he ran his own Thursday night game for many years. Despite the passage of much time, his interest in the game has not diminished, and the mutual love affair between Henry Francis and the world of bridge continues to flourish.
Suffering from Parkinson's disease, he disappeared August 1, 2017.
