Team Auto Mall - Russ Francis

TEAM AUTO MALL

In June of 2003, Auto Mall general manager Bill Coirbeil was playing golf with Boston Red Sox All-star Rico Petrocelli and New England Patriot great Russ Francis. During conversation, Corbeil asked Francis what his plans were while he was back on the East Coast. Francis said he was going to move back 'home' and try to get into the commercial truck business.

Corbeil couldn't believe his ears...he was in the initial planning stages of developing a fleet and commercial arm of The New Auto Mall.

"This seemed like the perfect fit for me, because I'd been visiting the Boston area since retiring and always planned to move back. I consider it coming home to family," Francis said, adding that he's been acquainted with business leaders along the East Coast for years.

The son of a nurse and a former Chicago policeman turned Hawaiian wrestler and promoter, Francis says he has been an entrepreneur since he sold newspapers to Marines in front of Pinky’s Broiler in 1964.

His experience includes a 26 year career in sports broadcasting, marketing, public relations, communications and entrepreneur of numerous businesses throughout the country. Russ has worked for various networks including, ABC Sports & ABC Wide World of Sports, ESPN, FoxSports, Prime Network and CBS Sports.

He has six years experience in government within the Governor's Cabinet-State of Hawaii-Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

He played with the New England Patriots for eight years and won Rookie of the Year honors his first year in the NFL. He then moved on to the San Francisco 49ers.

In the 1985 Super Bowl Championship Game Francis caught five passes for sixty yards as a tight end to help San Francisco win Super Bowl XIX.

The World Champion San Francisco 49ers in the 1980's epitomized team work, high performance, and accomplishing goals against the odds. Francis was the 49er's starting tight end on what is often considered the best offensive football team to ever play the game.

"Working with a master at motivation and strategy was a priviledge. I got a lot more out of playing football than a superbowl ring," he said.

"I learned quickly that the NFL was not just a game--it was a business. And after playing for 14 years I got involved in many business and media ventures. In business I could see the fine line between super performance and profits and unfocused performance and failure. In a tough economic cycles, the companies that are not operating at peak levels will be defeated by companies operating with more urgency and efficiency. We have to resist complacency and motivate ourselves and our teammates constantly to stay sharp. I want to teach American companies that every employee's thinking and performance can become a "new normal" of high achievement that translates into profits"

Francis was born in Seattle, Washington on April 3, 1953, but moved to Kailua, Hawaii soon after. At Kailua High School he was not only a standout football player, but also excelled as an all-around athlete. In 1971 he set the national high school javelin throwing record which stood for 17 years. Afterward, he spent 14 years as a professional football player, playing 167 games for the the New England Patriots and the San Francisco 49ers, catching 393 passes for 5,262 yards and scoring 40 touchdowns.

He also played in three Pro Bowls and and was selected to the All-NFL team in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1980.

He attended The University of Oregon and was drafted in two separate sports: baseball (by the Kansas City Royals) and football. In the NFL draft he was selected in the first round by New England.

"I hadn't planned to go into professional sports," he said, rather, he agreed to play a season during his junior year in order to make enough money to buy books to finish his degree in veteranary.

After retiring from professional football Francis performed as a sports broadcaster for ABC, CBS and ESPN covering a wide variety a competitive events including surfing and sky diving.

He was selected by CNN Sports Illustrated as one of the 50 greatest sports figures in Hawai'i history.

Francis has been involved with the following charities: National Spokesman, United Way, National Co-Chairman-National Spinal Cord Injury Foundation, Special Olympics, Boys & Girls Club, Ronald McDonald House, Shriners Childrens Hospital and Jimmy Fund Golf Tournaments to benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

NFL statistics

Contact other members of the team
Jason Dragon
David Gates





							TEAM AUTO MALL • Russ Francis In June of 2003, Auto Mall general manager Bill Coirbeil was playing golf with Boston Red Sox All-star Rico Petrocelli and New England Patriot great Russ Francis. During conversation, Corbeil asked Francis what his plans were while he was back on the East Coast. Francis said he was going to move back 'home' and try to get into the commercial truck business. Corbeil couldn't believe his ears...he was in the initial planning stages of developing a fleet and commercial arm of The New Auto Mall. "This seemed like the perfect fit for me, because I'd been visiting the Boston area since retiring and always planned to move back. I consider it coming home to family," Francis said, adding that he's been acquainted with business leaders along the East Coast for years. The son of a nurse and a former Chicago policeman turned Hawaiian wrestler and promoter, Francis says he has been an entrepreneur since he sold newspapers to Marines in front of Pinky’s Broiler in 1964. His experience includes a 26 year career in sports broadcasting, marketing, public relations, communications and entrepreneur of numerous businesses throughout the country. Russ has worked for various networks including, ABC Sports & ABC Wide World of Sports, ESPN, FoxSports, Prime Network and CBS Sports. He has six years experience in government within the Governor's Cabinet-State of Hawaii-Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. He played with the New England Patriots for eight years and won Rookie of the Year honors his first year in the NFL. He then moved on to the San Francisco 49ers. In the 1985 Super Bowl Championship Game Francis caught five passes for sixty yards as a tight end to help San Francisco win Super Bowl XIX. The World Champion San Francisco 49ers in the 1980's epitomized team work, high performance, and accomplishing goals against the odds. Francis was the 49er's starting tight end on what is often considered the best offensive football team to ever play the game. "Working with a master at motivation and strategy was a priviledge. I got a lot more out of playing football than a superbowl ring," he said. "I learned quickly that the NFL was not just a game--it was a business. And after playing for 14 years I got involved in many business and media ventures. In business I could see the fine line between super performance and profits and unfocused performance and failure. In a tough economic cycles, the companies that are not operating at peak levels will be defeated by companies operating with more urgency and efficiency. We have to resist complacency and motivate ourselves and our teammates constantly to stay sharp. I want to teach American companies that every employee's thinking and performance can become a "new normal" of high achievement that translates into profits" Francis was born in Seattle, Washington on April 3, 1953, but moved to Kailua, Hawaii soon after. At Kailua High School he was not only a standout football player, but also excelled as an all-around athlete. In 1971 he set the national high school javelin throwing record which stood for 17 years. Afterward, he spent 14 years as a professional football player, playing 167 games for the the New England Patriots and the San Francisco 49ers, catching 393 passes for 5,262 yards and scoring 40 touchdowns. He also played in three Pro Bowls and and was selected to the All-NFL team in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1980. He attended The University of Oregon and was drafted in two separate sports: baseball (by the Kansas City Royals) and football. In the NFL draft he was selected in the first round by New England. "I hadn't planned to go into professional sports," he said, rather, he agreed to play a season during his junior year in order to make enough money to buy books to finish his degree in veteranary. After retiring from professional football Francis performed as a sports broadcaster for ABC, CBS and ESPN covering a wide variety a competitive events including surfing and sky diving. He was selected by CNN Sports Illustrated as one of the 50 greatest sports figures in Hawai'i history. Francis has been involved with the following charities: National Spokesman, United Way, National Co-Chairman-National Spinal Cord Injury Foundation, Special Olympics, Boys & Girls Club, Ronald McDonald House, Shriners Childrens Hospital and Jimmy Fund Golf Tournaments to benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. NFL statistics Contact other members of the team Jason Dragon David Gates

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