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Sliger Guided FSU In Years Of Expansion

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The Associated Press

Published: October 11, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Former Florida State University President Bernard F. Sliger, who oversaw record growth at the school he brought into the Atlantic Coast Conference, died Wednesday in his native Michigan, where he had been vacationing. Sliger was 83.

The avuncular Sliger, who was known to faculty and students alike as 'Bernie,' had been in declining health in recent years. He died at a hospital in Marquette, Mich.

'Florida has lost a dear friend,' Gov. Charlie Crist, a Florida State graduate, said Wednesday. 'I was proud he was president when I was there. I loved him.'
Sliger began a tradition of ice cream socials for students at Florida State and enjoyed playing pool with them as well. He was a constant presence on the campus, often casually outfitted in a linen shirt and trousers, chatting with faculty members, students and maintenance workers about nearly any subject.

'He'd have students over to his back yard and he'd play volleyball or Frisbee with them,' recalled Steve Edwards, a former physics professor and faculty dean at the school. 'The students just loved it. They were going to Bernie's house.'

A native of Trout Creek, Mich., Sliger earned bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in economics from Michigan State University.

He spent 19 years at Louisiana State University in a variety of roles and served a year as secretary of administration for the state when the lease was signed to build the Louisiana Superdome.
Sliger was president of FSU from 1977 to 1991 and again on an interim basis from September 1993 until Talbot 'Sandy' D'Alemberte became president in early January 1994. His beloved Seminoles won their first national title in football just days before his last retirement.
Sliger took great pride in keeping football coach Bobby Bowden from leaving for another school or pro job. Although Bowden was hired by his predecessor, Stanley Marshall, he was seen as a likely hire by Alabama in 1986, but a buyout clause put into the coach's contract by Sliger made it difficult to pirate the popular Bowden.
Sliger also was instrumental in bringing former Seminole All American shortstop Dick Howser back to coach the school's baseball team in 1979.

Funeral arrangements were pending, school officials said.

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