The captain of Georgetown's undefeated 1939 football, team, Francis (Reds) Daly was a three year letterman for the basketball team, playing a variety of starting and reserve roles on teams from 1937 through 1940.

Daly was one of three men's basketball alumni killed in World War II, losing his life in February, 1945 in the battle of Iwo Jima and posthumously receiving the Silver Star for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy". The team's most valuable player award is named in his honor.