Thomas Kent "T.K." Wetherell, president emeritus of Florida State University and former president of Tallahassee Community College, lost his 16-year-battle with cancer today.
Wetherell would have turned 73 on Dec 22.
Wetherell had been in treatment at the Duke University Medical Cancer and returned home for Thanksgiving. He had been hospitalized at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare until Thursday.
He told his wife, Virginia and doctors, he requested treatment be stopped and was admitted to a local hospice center.
He is remembered as one of the champions of Florida, finding his niche in education and politics.
Wetherell is respected as one of Tallahassee’s most powerful leaders, serving as president of Florida State University from 2003 to 2010.
He also is credited with transforming Tallahassee Community College, where he was president from 1995 to 2001.
His impact as president is recognized on both campuses. Building A of the University Center at FSU, which houses the Film School, bears his name.
In January 2010, FSU unveiled a life-sized bronze statue of Wetherell on the south side of Westcott Plaza.
At TCC, sits the T.K. Wetherell History and Social Sciences Building.
Wetherell served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1980 to 1992, presiding as House Speaker his final two years. It was in the Capitol arena that he also chaired the coveted Appropriations and Education committees.
Wetherell was the first alumnus of Florida State to become its president and brought a wealth of experience and dedication to the institution that raised its stature on many levels.
After retiring from the presidency, Wetherell served as a professor in the College of Education and director of the Center for Higher Education Research, Teaching & Innovation.
“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,” said FSU President John Thrasher. “He was a remarkable person and a great friend.”
He learned to combine his belief in advancing higher education and knowing where to find the money in tight state budgets to make it happen.
It proved to be especially beneficial to Florida State – where Wetherell earned three degrees – and in his quest to make Tallahassee Community College one of the best-positioned community colleges in the country.
James Harold Thompson served in the Florida House from 1974 to 1986. Wetherell, he said, was especially adept at the legislative budget process, which later served him well at FSU and TCC.
“He was very attuned to the appropriations process,” said Thompson, a senior attorney at the Ausley McMullen law firm. “It qualified him for the positions that he held later as president of Tallahassee Community College and Florida State University. He was known as being diligent, knowledgeable and direct.
He set in motion a recognition of excellence in higher education that has been carried over by others inside and outside of the Legislature.”