Francis H. Sleeper *52

Francis H. Sleeper, an old-fashioned, respected, and hardworking business reporter, died Sept. 8, 2006, in Portland, Maine, after a long struggle with prostate cancer. He was 79.

Born in Worcester, Mass., Sleeper was a Harvard graduate who earned a master’s degree in international relations from American University and one in politics from Princeton in 1952. He studied in Egypt for two years on a Fulbright scholarship, and then became a business reporter in Portland. He worked for the Portland Press Herald, Maine Sunday Telegram, and Portland Evening Press for nearly 40 years. Also, from 1958 until November 2005, Sleeper was the Maine correspondent for Time, Inc. As a boxing fan, he was asked to cover the heavyweight title fight in Lewiston between Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) and Sonny Liston. He interviewed Clay during a short jog along the Maine Turnpike before the fight.

In addition, Sleeper freelanced for other publications, and after his retirement, authored several books on Maine history.

He is survived by his sons, Bruce and Eric, and five grandchildren.