Francis Roberts

Francis Roberts (1904-1996) was a graduate of Fond du Lac High School. He continued his study at Organ Theater of Music in Chicago. He played at theaters around the Chicago area until talking films began. During the Depression, he returned to the Fond du Lac area and enrolled at Oshkosh State Teachers College, where he received a degree in English education in 1936. He received a master’s degree from UW-Madison. He taught high school English in Sturgeon Bay and Waukesha until his retirement.

Francis established the Roberts Prose Writing Competition Fund in 1984 to be used to hold an annual writing contest to encourage and foster the writing abilities of students. Francis was inspired by his participation in an annual writing contest as a student. He won or was co-winner of the contest three times.