Francis Stroup (’29), DeKalb, Ill., composer of “Fight, North Texas,” died Dec. 1 at 101. He wrote the fight song in 1939 as an entry in a contest for a new marching song. As a student, he was a member of the basketball team, played football and was a swimmer and diver. He was inducted into the UNT Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and earned his master’s and doctorate from the University of Southern California. He was a faculty member at the University of Wyoming and Arkansas’ Southern State College before joining Northern Illinois University, where he wrote the words to the fight song and was the first swimming and diving coach. His teams won 13 NCAA championships. After retiring as a professor of physical education, he continued to enjoy composing and playing music. His mother, Mina Gist Stroup, and brother, Malcolm Stroup, also were alumni. Read a fall 2008 North Texan story about Francis, and listen to his memories of the Depression.
Francis Stroup (’29), DeKalb, Ill., composer of “Fight, North Texas,” died Dec. 1 at 101. He wrote the fight song in 1939 as an entry in a contest for a new marching song. As a student, he was a member of the basketball team, played football and was a swimmer and diver. He was inducted into the UNT Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and earned his master’s and doctorate from the University of Southern California. He was a faculty member at the University of Wyoming and Arkansas’ Southern State College before joining Northern Illinois University, where he wrote the words to the fight song and was the first swimming and diving coach. His teams won 13 NCAA championships. After retiring as a professor of physical education, he continued to enjoy composing and playing music. His mother, Mina Gist Stroup, and brother, Malcolm Stroup, also were alumni. Read a fall 2008 North Texan story about Francis, and listen to his memories of the Depression.
