Florida State University will host a “celebration of life” to honor the memory of the late President Emeritus John Thrasher on Tuesday, Aug. 19 in the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. Thrasher, who was FSU’s 15th president, died of cancer in May. He was 81.
Who can attend?
The celebration of life is open to the campus community and members of the public.
Where is the memorial being held?
The concert hall’s address is 222 S. Copeland St., inside the Westcott Building.
When is the service?
Doors will open at noon. The service will begin at 1 p.m.
Where can I park?
Parking will be available in the lots adjacent to Westcott.
Who was John Thrasher?
He was a Vietnam combat veteran and businessman, and also was the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and then a state senator representing the Jacksonville area.
He was named FSU president in 2014 and retired in 2021. He was named the Tallahassee Democrat’s Person of the Year in 2015.
His administration is lauded for how he led the school through a series of challenges that included achieving status as a preeminent research institution, raising more than $1 billion to fund scholarships and professorship, and in how he dealt with a shooting at Strozier Library and a fraternity hazing death.
He also led the local community in addressing the university’s and city’s history dealing with matters of race.
Jim Rosica can be reached at jrosica@tallahassee.com. Follow him on X: @JimRosicaFL.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU community to remember the late John Thrasher on Aug. 19
Reporting by Jim Rosica, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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