It was an upbeat “family affair” Wednesday morning in Long Bay as government officials, friends – and family – along with three generations of V.I. engineers gathered to celebrate the renaming of the V.I. Water and Power Authority substation there after Donald C. Francois.
Francois is credited with being a guiding force behind the Virgin Islands’ environmental and engineering technological growth over the last 40 plus years.
But Francois meant much more than that to the people gathered under the white, sun-soaked tent planted for the occasion in front of the vivid blue substation.
WAPA governing board member Juanita Young said after the ceremony that Francois was most fondly known for his commitment to seeing young Virgin Islanders educated in engineering and encouraging them to come home to ply their skills for WAPA or even other agencies.
Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Alicia Barnes was one of those young people mentored and supported by Francois.
Barnes met Francois 25 years ago when she finished her degree in environmental engineering and marine biology, she said while making official remarks at the ceremony. “I was blown away by his level of expertise.”
She said Francois put her to work along with many other returning young people. “Donald mentored a generation of environmental engineering experts in the territory.” 
Calling the gathering a “family reunion,” Barnes said WAPA was the most professional organization she had ever worked for – quipping “except for DPNR,” which she now heads.
Speaker after speaker, including WAPA Executive Director Hugo Hodge, called out people in the audience who had been helped, influenced and taught by Francois.
“We should do this once a year,” Hodge said.
Before returning to the Virgin Islands in 1969, Francois spent 10 years working in the aeronautics industry for Boeing, United Airlines, Lockheed and even Quantas. At Boeing, Francois was a member of the team that produced the first Boeing 707, according to the biography printed for the celebration. At United he served as lead engineer and section chief of the technology center.
Closer to home, Francois served as chief operating officer and director of engineering and environmental affairs for the power authority from 1981-1994. From 1969 to 1981 he was director of natural resources for what was then Conservation and Cultural Affairs – now DPNR.
The substation that now bears Francois’ name was put into service in 2007. At a cost of $8 million – $2 million of that coming from the developers of Yacht Haven Grande – it serves as a state-of-the art model for others such stations, according to WAPA spokeswoman Cassandra Dunn.
It is the crucial support system and link for the Schneider Regional Medical Center, the Lucinda Millin Home for the Aged, the island of St. John, West Indian Company and other large commercial enterprises on St. Thomas.
Humble, humorous, noted for his “colorful” language and “no nonsense” approach to leadership, Francois was celebrated by all in attendance, including Gov. John deJongh Jr., most of all for being committed to the territory and to those who have come up behind him.
After retiring in 1994, Francois returned to work less than a year later to help with the recovery efforts after Hurricane Marilyn and continues nearly 20 years later as the senior member of WAPA’s governing board.
Attorney Denise Francois, daughter of Donald and Faye Francois, said: “Whenever people complain about government employees, I always tell them ‘my parents were government employees who only retired when the work began to impair their health.’”
During his brief remarks, Francois said he was especially honored to have the modern substation named after him. Calling it a “command center,” he said, “To be honored is one thing, but to have my name placed on such a structure makes me feel even better.”
