Michigan State University's former president, Dr. Clifton Wharton Jr., has passed away. He was 98. The school has confirmed the news of his demise. Wharton was the school's 14th president and the first Black man to ever hold the title, having been elected in 1970.
The school released an obituary in his name on November 16, and a part of it reads:
"The Honorable Dr. Clifton R. Wharton Jr. was a Black pioneer in four different fields: Foreign economic development, higher education, philanthropy and business. The first Black to become CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Dr. Wharton was Chairman and CEO of TIAA-CREF, the nation’s largest pension fund with assets over $390 billion."
Who was Clifton Wharton Jr.? Michigan State University loses one of its biggest pioneers
Dr. Clifton Wharton Jr.'s tenure at Michigan State University ran from 1970 through 1978. Post that, he served as the chancellor of the State University of New York from 1978-87, yet again becoming the first Black man to be in charge of 64 campuses at once.
MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz, alongside the board of trustees, issued a joint statement on Sunday reflecting on Wharton's demise and his "profound influence" on the university.
"But, so fittingly for a leader in higher education, his focus on developing people might be said to be his most outstanding legacy," the statement said. "He declared at the outset that, 'What is frequently required is not a pronouncement of leadership but rather encouragement of the individuals within the institution.' There are many who will attest to the impact of his focus on people, one of the many reasons he will long live in the hearts of Spartans."
Clifton Wharton Jr. was born on September 13, 1926, in Boston, Massachusetts. He got accepted into Harvard at the age of 16, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history. He then enrolled at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins for his master's. He earned a doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago. He also boasted 62 honorary doctorates.
As mentioned in his obituary, Wharton was named the deputy secretary of state under President Bill Clinton in 1993, and he also held appointments under six different presidents.
The school launched an art center in his and his wife's name, the Clifton and Dolores Wharton Center for Performing Arts, in 1982.
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Dr. Clifton Wharton Jr. leaves behind his wife of 74 years, Dolores, and son Bruce. Per the obituary, the family is asking for donations to be made to the Dr. Clifton and Dolores Wharton Legacy Fund at Michigan State University. All the proceeds will then go to the Wharton Center's Endowment Fund, which will in turn support the school's art center.
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