Francis Heller was born August 24, 1917 to Charles and Lily (Grunwald) Heller in Vienna, Austria. He graduated from Schotten-Gymnasium of Vienna in 1935. He subsequently graduated from the University of Vienna Law School in 1937. He attended the University of Virginia where he received his J.D. in 1941, Masters in German Literature, Masters in political science, and his Ph.D in Political Science in 1948. Heller served in the United States Army during World War II and the Korean War, earning multiple commendations and medals. He became an assistant professor of government at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

One year later, Heller moved to Lawrence and became an assistant professor of political science at the University of Kansas until 1951. He became director of the Western Civilization program in 1956, holding the position for one year when he became director of the college honors program. He held this post for ten years, until 1967, when he became the Chief Academic Officer for the University and the acting provost for the Lawrence campus. In 1972, he became the Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor of Law and Political Science until 1988, when he became the Distinguished Professor Emeritus until his retirement in 2003. In 1970, he relinquished his post as acting provost of the Lawrence campus and in 1972 the chief academic officer position.

Heller received multiple awards during his 55 years at the University of Kansas, including the Higher Education Service award in 1974, the Chancellor's Club Career Teaching Award in 1986, and the Distinguished Service Citation in 1998, the highest award at the University for a Professor. In 2004, Heller also received the Republic of Austria Cross of Honor for Science and Art.

Heller was active at other institutions around Kansas, including the University Press of Kansas, the United States Army Command, the Benedictine College in Atchison, the General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, and the Harry S. Truman Library. Heller served with Former President Truman and helped him in both research and writing Truman's memoirs. Heller wrote 19 books, 66 articles, and 221 book reviews. He moved to Denver, Colorado in 2008 to be closer to his family. Francis Heller passed away at the age of 95, on January 9, 2013 in Denver, Colorado.