In coordination with the tricentennial of the City of New Orleans and in the memories of the Mother Emmanuel 9 we do hereby petition the City of New Orleans to change the name of Jefferson Davis Parkway, Jefferson Davis leader of the rebellion against the United States of America and President of the Confederate States of America, to Dr. Norman Francis Memorial Parkway. Dr. Francis, President Emeritus Xavier University of Louisiana has overseen the expansion of Xavier University and served as the longest serving president of a university in the United States. With Xavier bordering the current parkway it is right and just to change the name to honor such a great public servant to our city.