Ralph Miller Francisco was born in Dayton, Ohio on May 12, 1907, the son of William Atwood and Mary Alice (Schindler) Francisco. He attended the Dayton Public Schools, graduating in 1924 from Stivers High School (Dayton Cooperative Industrial Division).
He married Margaret Lee McMaster of Dayton on June 8, 1929. They had no children. They were long-time members of South Park United Methodist Church of Dayton, where M. W. Brother Francisco served his church in many official capacities including chairman of the Administrative Board, president of the Trustees, and for twenty years as chairman of the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee.
M. W. Brother Francisco was employed in the magazine publishing field of the graphic arts for a period of fifty years. Since 1942 he was associated with the late: David Lawrence, founder and editor of the weekly news magazine “U.S. News &, World Report.” During this association he served as production manager of the magazine, retiring in 1973. For a brief period in 1943, M. W. Brother Francisco served in the U.S. Army.
He was raised in Mystic Lodge No. 405, Dayton, March 24, 1931; served in various offices of the lodge and was elected Worshipful Master in November, 1939. He dimitted to Riverview Lodge No. 717 also of Dayton in April, 1944, serving as Senior Warden while the lodge was under Dispensation. At the first annual meeting in November 1944 he was elected Worshipful Master.
He is a member of all the York Rite bodies in Dayton having been exalted in Unity Chapter No. 16, R. A. M. on March 4, 1938, serving as High Priest in 1949-50. He was received in Reese Council No.9, R. & S. M., on March 4, 1938, and served as Illustrious Master in 1954-55. He was knighted in Reed Commandery No.6, K. T., on February 14, 1944.
M. W. Brother Francisco received the Scottish Rite degrees in the Valley of Dayton in November 1935 and was active in the affairs of the Valley, participating in many of the degrees.
In May 1950 he was appointed Master of Ceremonies of Gabriel Lodge of Perfection, subsequently serving in the various offices of the lodge. He was elected Thrice Potent Master in May, 1960, holding that office for two years. He has served the Valley of Dayton as a Trustee since 1964, and was elected chairman of the Valley Executive Committee in 1975.
He was crowned a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33°, Honorary Member of the Supreme Council in Chicago, Illinois on September 27, 1961. At the Supreme Council session In Cleveland. In I965 he served as a Marshal of the Camp. In September 1977 he was made an Active Member of the Supreme Council for Ohio.
On January 1,1971, M. W. Brother Francisco was named Secretary of Ohio Council of Deliberation, holding that office for a period of five years.
M. W. Brother Francisco has had a distinguished career of service in the Grand Lodge of Ohio. He was appointed a District Deputy Grand Master of the Second Masonic District in October 1953, serving for two years. In October, 1955 he was appointed Junior Grand Deacon subsequently progressing through the several appointive and elective offices of the Grand Lodge, and was elected and installed as Most Worshipful Grand Master of Ohio on October 13, 1962. He has served on many of the committees of the Grand Lodge, and held the chairmanship of the Grand Lodge Ritual Committee for over fifteen years.
M. W. Brother Francisco was designated a Trustee of the Ohio Masonic Home in October 1964 by the Ohio Council of Deliberation and has continued as a Trustee until his death. His service on this Board of Trustees included membership on the Management, Finance, Policy, Long-Range Planning and Admissions Committees, serving for a number of years as chairman of the latter committee, and Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
He held membership in Antioch Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. since 1955. He was a member of Dayton Court No. 10, Royal Order of Jesters; Holy Grail Conclave, Order of the Red Cross of Constantine (Past Sovereign); and the Mariners Club of Dayton. He is a member and Past Patron of Victory Chapter No. 410, Order of the Eastern Star and also the Downtown Dayton Kiwanis Club.
M. W. Brother Francisco was elected president of the Masonic Temple Association of the City of Dayton, Ohio in 1960 and 1961, serving as chairman of the Board of Shareholders of the Temple Association for many years.
Shortly before midnight on Saturday, December 4, M. W. Brother Ralph M. Francisco passed away. Services were held at the South Park United Methodist Church, 140 Stonemill Road, Dayton, Ohio on Wednesday December 8, 1982, interment in David Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio.