NEW ORLEANS – The following is a statement from Entergy Chair and Chief Executive Officer Drew Marsh on the passing of Dr. Norman C. Francis, higher education and civil rights leader and a former Entergy director:

“We are saddened by the loss of educator and civil rights leader, Dr. Norman C. Francis, who served on our board of directors from 1994-2003. As Xavier University president, Dr. Francis uplifted our community, created opportunities for generations of students and left a remarkable legacy on our city,” Marsh said.

During his tenure and since his retirement, we continued to partner with Dr. Francis and Xavier University on a variety of initiatives, such as the Dr. Norman C. Francis Endowed Scholarship Fund, the Entergy-Xavier STEM Academy, the purchase of adaptive vans for mobility impaired students, the Power of Prosperity Generational Wealth Building program and to provide more than $1.2 million in scholarships and support.

About Entergy

Entergy generates, transmits and distributes electricity to power life for more than 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re focused on keeping costs for our customers as low as possible while providing reliable energy that our communities count on. We’re also investing in growth for the future with a more resilient, cleaner energy system that includes modern natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy generation. As a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship, we deliver more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to the communities we serve through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at Entergy.com and connect with @Entergy on social media.