april december american college professor university president native alabama mathematics instructor earning bachelor degree later served president later renamed second president person president florida original state universities played important role organization growth ultimate success institutions early life education born near alabama father confederate veteran civil war mother emily helen parents raised family children alabama attended community schools local year college graduated bachelor_of_arts degree taught mathematics high schools small colleges alabama tennessee texas mathematics instructor west florida seminary known florida years later board trustees appointed seminary president age later married daughter seminary trustees subsequently started completed academic work master arts degree serving president seminary renamed professor university president president west florida seminary worked create florida liberal arts college reorganized departments college leadership produced state prominent political advanced president new florida located florida newly consolidated men university land grant college created passage segregated florida schools higher learning race gender instead selected president president new men university continued serve president female emphasized greater academic expectations female students upgrading expanding college curriculum meet modern university standards convinced legislature change college president appointed school year conflict new governor members believed standards growth university advanced replacement time voted unanimously approve appointment assumed new duties summer worked predecessor ensure smooth transition capitalized previous successes surprise previous political supporters endorsed standards actually requirements entry beginning reorganized university administration academic colleges college law took particular interest university awarded master degree later oversaw addition journalism term oversaw construction new major buildings including historical landmarks flint hall science department college agriculture new university library known enrollment grew students reported taken pride knowing florida student student leaders formed leadership society university celebrated homecoming parade students organized rally variety president florida friend representative nebraska democratic_party nominee president established winter residence miami florida time florida resident frequent speaker florida met speech university result friendship volunteered fund raising drive chairman construction university new building known hall floated possible gubernatorial candidate occasions publicly personal interest elected office consulting advance january announced candidacy delegate elected nominate party candidate president united_states election campaigned vigorously despite refusal candidate stated effort southern man nominated president florida man florida newspapers urged run took candidacy seriously elected delegate pledged support nomination greeted convention nomination later told senator reception fellow convention delegates life elected president death legacy died unexpectedly sleep age december wife died years earlier buried cemetery downtown blocks wife survived children sons daughters alberta worth wallace daughter martha graduated bachelor degree son namesake graduated bachelor degree earned master degree oxford_university later serve professor english literature university second choice president served longer second leader university presidents founding president built solid academic standards faculty selections planning predecessor greatly expanded improved imposed university modern organizational structure responsible beginnings traditions death widely praised editorial pages newspapers state region credited helping grow small state college rapidly expanding regional university eighteen years president universities infancy continued grow death total enrollment undergraduate graduate professional students enrolled total students little years national research universities early expansion improvement played fundamental role grown places largest single campus universities united_states largest honor second president erected statue campus adjacent landmarks plaza americas library east hall florida president honored florida named early hall tribute remembrance president erected campus statue adjacent named wife
Albert A. Murphree