Former UNC President William Friday dies
Source: WRAL
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — William Friday, who shepherded the University of North Carolina system through three decades of tumultuous change and rapid growth as one of the nation's longest-serving university presidents, died Friday morning at age 92, according to his assistant, Virginia Taylor.
"Friday's unique leadership and contributions arose from a native intelligence, an innate political ability, an informal and non-bureaucratic style and, perhaps above all, a simultaneously gregarious and sensitive personality, " biographer Link wrote in his book. "By virtue of his management style, which was personal and usually most effective in behind-the-scenes consultations, Friday often appeared in the background of the flow of events even when he was centrally involved."
Friday retired as UNC president in 1986 after reaching the state's mandatory retirement age, but he didn't slow down. He continued working to improve U.S. higher education on the Carnegie Commission on the Future of American Education and the White House Task Force on Education.
In 1989, he and former University of Notre Dame President Theodore Hesburgh were named the founding co-chairmen of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. Under their leadership, the commission pushed for more control of athletics by university presidents, rigorous academic standards for athletes and certifying athletic departments that run their sports programs in a fiscally responsible, equitable and ethical manner.
Read more: http://www.wral.com/former-unc-president-william-friday-dies/3281443/
I have lost a friend. So has every Tar Heel. So has the Nation.
My condolences to Miss Ida and the entire Friday family. The People of North Carolina have lost one of their greatest.
Today is University Day, the 219th anniversary of the founding of The University.
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