Farewell to a Florida Giant: John Thrasher Dies at 80
John Thrasher really left a big void in the state of Florida with his passing. The former president of Florida State University (FSU), a state legislator, and U.S. Army veteran, who died last Friday, had just revealed to the public about his cancer diagnosis one month ago. He was 80 years old.
Thrasher was a prominent figure in Florida politics and education for quite some time. Before he started his term as the university’s 15th president in 2014 (a position he held until 2021), Thrasher had forged a distinguished trail of public service by his side. Starting with the Florida Medical Association, he then stepped into the world of politics and was always brilliant in whatever he does in the Florida House of Representatives or the Florida Senate.
While in the House, Thrasher was a member from 1992 to 2000 and after that served as Speaker for the last two years. Subsequently, he came back to the legislature, holding the position of state senator from 2009 to 2014. All that time, he was also the majority party executive of the state Party of Florida for a very short but crucial year (2010).
But indeed, he was an accomplished public servant without paper qualifications. Many people had immense trust in Thrasher as a person of sound character, honesty, and unwearyingly commitment. He did not only get along with friends but also others and was respected across partisan lines for his ethical and compassionate conduct. Chair of the Florida Democratic Party Nikki Fried has aptly expressed this camaraderie by saying, “We cheered for different teams but he remained our friend.”
Thrasher had a deep attachment with FSU, which he connected with not simply as a leader but also as a fellow student. He is an FSU alumnus who earned both a bachelor’s and a law degree from there. In between the aforesaid successes, he took part in the Vietnam War, where he was given the Army Commendation Medal, and also, two Bronze Stars while serving in the U.S. Army.
He is acknowledged as a credit to the university for introducing constructive student success projects, increasing postgraduate enrollment, securing research funding, and recruiting faculty. Despite being no longer the president, he kept backing the university as a faculty member at the FSU College of Law.
FSU has decided to observe his death on August 19 at the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall while his family will privately bury him in Orange Park.
- People from different parts of the state have been sending their tributes:
- Speaking of Governor Ron DeSantis, he termed him “a truly amazing man who has negatively affected the lives of many”.
- Senate President Ben Albritton said of him, “He is a great leader who makes fair decisions and never doubts his judgment.”
- The two Senators Shevrin Jones and Corey Simon reached out to the late president by calling him the great statesman.
- FSU President Richard McCullough underscored his warmth, humor, and the support he received from McCullough during the transition.
Wilton Simpson, Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner, paid one particularly heartwarming tribute, naming Thrasher “The Lion of the Senate” and added, “John Thrasher was a fighter. His legacy will live on for a long time.”
Certainly, life represents a beautiful mixture of patriotism, service to the public, and a strong desire for education as Mr. Thrasher’s. His death is a great loss to us, but his works for Florida and FSU will always keep his memory alive.
PIC COURTESY: ABC NEWS
