TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Former Florida State University president T.K. Wetherell died Sunday at the age  of 72, the university announced. He had been in hospice.

  • T.K. Wetherell dead at 72
  • Wetherell was FSU president from 2003-2010
  • He also served in the Florida House of Representatives

Wetherell, a Daytona Beach native, played football at Florida State in the 1960s and later served as the university's president from 2003 to 2010.

He also served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1980 to 1992, with the last two years as House Speaker.

"As a veteran lawmaker, tireless supporter of higher education and then as president, T.K. used his energy and intellect to not only lead FSU through a severe budget crisis but to make sure it flourished in so many ways," FSU president John Thrasher said in a statement. "He was a remarkable person and a great friend."

Wetherell is credited with increasing the academic quality of Florida State students, the number of doctoral degreess awarded and the amount of research dollars the university received. He also oversaw $800 million worth of campus growth, which included new classrooms and research facilities.  

"T.K. was an amazing man who was able to accomplish so much because of his boundless energy and his ability to focus and continue working through any challenge," former Florida State provost Larry Abele said in a statement. 

After retiring as Florida State president, Wetherell worked as a professor in the College of Education and director of the Center for Higher Education Research, Teaching & Innovation.