John Thrasher, former Florida State president and state House speaker, dies at 81

1 week ago 4

John Thrasher, a erstwhile Florida State University president and longtime authorities lawmaker, has died

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- John Thrasher, a erstwhile Florida State University president and longtime authorities legislator, died connected Friday. He was 81.

Thrasher, who served arsenic talker of the Florida House and arsenic a subordinate of the Florida Senate, died Friday greeting successful Orlando, his household said successful a statement. He had been battling cancer, according to a social media post past period from his erstwhile lobbying firm.

“John lived a singular beingness — and helium made a large quality successful the lives of truthful galore successful our state,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said successful a statement.

Thrasher, a Republican, was a subordinate of the Florida House from 1992-2000, serving arsenic talker during his past 2 years. After leaving elected office, helium went connected to co-found The Southern Group lobbying firm. He was elected to the Florida Senate successful 2009 and stayed determination until 2014.

“Integrity, perseverance, and spot propelled John to occurrence astatine each level of nationalist work and backstage industry," Florida Senate President Ben Albritton said successful a statement. "His beingness was rooted successful devotion to nationalist service, patriotism, a emotion of the law, and a passionateness for education.”

Thrasher served arsenic president of Florida State University from 2014 to 2021. He earned a concern grade from the schoolhouse successful 1965, earlier joining the U.S. Army, wherever helium received the Army Commendation Medal and 2 Bronze Stars for his work successful Vietnam. Following his subject service, Thrasher returned to Florida State to gain a instrumentality grade successful 1972.

“John’s emotion for Florida State University was genuinely inspiring,” existent FSU President Richard McCullough said successful statement. “As an alumnus, legislator, trustee, and president, helium devoted his beingness to elevating FSU’s nationalist estimation and helping the assemblage scope caller heights successful pupil success, world excellence, and research."

A backstage burial has been planned successful Orange Park, adjacent Jacksonville. A solemnisation of his beingness is scheduled for Aug. 19 astatine Florida State successful Tallahassee.