FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — A portion of Leesburg Road from Spring to Main streets, including the extension to Jefferson Boulevard, is officially named St. Francis Drive by the city of Fort Wayne in honor of the University of Saint Francis.
“St. Francis Drive serves as a fitting tribute to St. Francis of Assisi as we celebrate this Jubilee Year of St. Francis, as proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV,” Saint Francis President Dr. Lance Richey said. “We hope that this renaming will be of assistance as a wayfinding sign for those visiting the University of Saint Francis. The university offers its heartfelt appreciation to our neighbors who made this possible with their expeditious support, and to Mayor Sharon Tucker, her administration and staff who helped us navigate this process.”
The University of Saint Francis was founded in 1890 in Lafayette by the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration. The first name of the school was St. Francis Normal School, then renamed to St. Francis College before moving to Fort Wayne in 1944…