Sept. 8, 2009

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University Athletics lost a treasured football alumnus on Sunday with the passing of Athletic Hall of Famer Roger Franz. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, September 9th, at 9:30 am in Our Lady's Chapel located in the basement of the University Church.

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended Purcell High School, Franz graduated from Fordham College in 1954, after completing a Hall of Fame career with the football squad. He led the nation in passing yards as a junior in 1952 with 1,887, the ninth best single season total in Fordham history. He also set school single season records by completing 105 of 216 passes for 1,887 yards that fall while also serving as the team punter, leading the East in punting average.

An All-East, Catholic All-American and Honorable Mention All-American in 1953, Franz graduated as Fordham's career record holder for most pass attempts (494), completions (244) and passing yards (4,247) and was second all-time in touchdown passes (21). He currently ranks seventh on the school's all-time pass attempts and completions list and fourth on the career passing yards list. Franz is also third on the Fordham career punting average list and eighth in total punting yards.

Franz was invited to play in the 1954 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, and was inducted into the Fordham Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980.

Franz, a retired member of N.Y.S.E., is survived by his wife, Claudette, his children, Roger W., Jr., Joan Mary James and Ann Marie Del Favero, and his grandchildren, Tristin and Shauna Franz, Marc, Julia and Stephanie Del Favero.