Donald-Zacharias-Obituary

Donald W. Zacharias

Age 77

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AGE
77

Obituary

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi State University's 15th president, Donald W. Zacharias, has died of complications from multiple sclerosis, the university said Sunday. He was 77.

He died late Saturday night, said daughter-in-law Sarah Zacharias of Boulder, Colo.

Zacharias was president from 1985-97. Only founding president Stephen D. Lee served longer, the university said in a news release.

"Donald Zacharias was a transformative figure at Mississippi State University," university President Mark E. Keenum said. "He really helped bring MSU into the modern era, and he did so by developing a broad vision for the leadership that Mississippi needed from a land grant university. At our last visit during the Christmas holidays, Dr. Zacharias was still providing valuable, thoughtful counsel to me and still had the welfare of MSU students at the top of his mind."

Enrollment, private contributions, research and athletic achievement all grew s ignificantly under Zacharias, and MSU became home to one of a handful of Engineering Research Centers funded by the National Science Foundation, the university said. MSU became nationally known for use of technology in the classroom and created the state's first site on the Internet, according to the news release.

Enrollment rose to Mississippi's highest, at almost 16,000. African-American enrollment more than doubled to 2,200 - 15 percent of the student body and the highest percentage among SEC schools.

Zacharias was born in Salem, Ind., and taught at Indiana University and the University of Texas, where he moved into administration. He was Western Kentucky University's president before coming to Mississippi State.

He is survived by his wife, Tommie Kline Zacharias of Starkville, their three adult children and three grandchildren, all of Boulder, Colo., and by a sister in Yucaipa, Calif.

When he resigned in 1997, Zacharias said: "I saw things in Missi ssippi State University that others might not have seen. I felt that I had made the right decision to be at this university because I liked both what it stood for and its overall character. I liked its mission, and I liked the students and alumni. I saw the potential."

Funeral arrangements were incomplete. Zacharias' family will release details through Mississippi State, but a public memorial service is tentatively planned on campus on Thursday, the university said.


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Dr. Zacharias was a friend and colleague of my father Dr. F. D. Williams (Sr.) at UT Austin 1969. As newcomers to Austin TX, Mrs. Zacharias helped us get settled, we didn't have a car yet (my father was still using it while finishing up a summer job at UW Madison WI - until he moved to Austin late 1969 to start work at the U. Texas Speech Communications Center. They are a great family - I actually baby sat a couple of times for them - when they got stuck for a sitter. He, Bob Jeffries, R....

Sorry IAm so late in this response. As a high school classmate of Don, I was unaware of his passing and wish to express my regrets to his family.

May God's grace and mercy sustain you during this time of grief.

May the God of all comfort sustain you during this difficult time. 1 Cor. 1:3&4

Keeping you and your family in my prayers during this difficult time. Take comfort in knowing that God will soon put an end to our tears and sorrow.

Ms. Tommie, I am truly sorry for the loss of such a great man. I have always admired both of you. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

May the family be comfort at this time of the lost of your love one in death and be strengthened at 2nd cor 1: verse 4...

My sincere condolences to each of you. SHS '53' classmate CM Nichols Moon