Former KGS laboratory manager Henry Francis dies at 74

Retired KGS laboratory manager Henry Francis died on August 26 in hospice care in Lexington. His official retirement from KGS was January 2, 2009, but he was still regularly in the Mining and Mineral Resources Building after retirement, working at the KGS lab and a coal lab operated by the UK Department of Mining Engineering.

Francis joined KGS as the lab manager in April 1988, after working in a similar position at the university’s Chemical Engineering Department. He had previously taught chemistry at Eastern Kentucky University and worked as a research scientist at the Institute for Mining and Minerals Resources at UK, which eventually became the Center for Applied Energy Research. He had earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Western Kentucky University in 1966 and did graduate work at UK in chemical analysis methods and spectroscopy. During his years at the KGS laboratory, he was involved in water quality projects across Kentucky, both through partnerships with UK institutes and with the Kentucky Watershed Watch. Henry stayed active in such volunteer efforts after his retirement.

"Henry was instrumental in equipping the X-ray and mineral analytical lab that is housed here at KGS and is currently utilized by dozens of students and faculty from many departments at the University of Kentucky," says Jason Backus, who succeeded Henry as laboratory manager. "His dedication and knowledge of analytical chemistry in geological samples and his willingness to share his experience will be missed."

In 2008, he received an Award of Merit from the Committee on Coal and Coke of ASTM International (originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials). The Award of Merit and accompanying title of "fellow" is the highest organizational honor for individual contributions to standards activities. Francis was cited for "meritorious service and outstanding leadership of the committee, for service to the ASTM Society, and service to the development and promulgation of standards of the Committee on Coal and Coke." He was also recognized by ASTM International with the 1994 R.A. Glenn Award for outstanding contribution to ASTM standards for coal and coke and a Service Award in 1998.

After his retirement Francis was presented the 2012 Bob Lauderdale Award for Water Quality at the annual meeting of the Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute. The award recognized Henry’s long service to the Kentucky water resources community.

A memorial service for Francis is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, Sept. 2, at Trinity Baptist Church, 1675 Strader Ave., in Lexington.