Kenneth M. Jarin, chairman of the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), issued the following statement today upon the death of F. Eugene Dixon Jr., the Board’s founding chairman and chairman emeritus:

“I have been honored to hold the position once held by Fitz Dixon,” Mr. Jarin said. “The State System is among Mr. Dixon’s many enduring legacies. The Commonwealth and its citizenry are indebted to this true icon of public service. We extend our deepest sympathies to Mr. Dixon’s family and his friends upon his passing.”

PASSHE Chancellor Judy G. Hample also praised Mr. Dixon for his many years of service to the Board of Governors and PASSHE.

“Mr. Dixon helped give life to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education,” Dr. Hample said. “As the founding Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr. Dixon directed the creation and development of the State System from its very beginning. Literally hundreds of thousands of graduates of the 14 PASSHE Universities owe much to Mr. Dixon and to his nearly two decades of dedicated and committed service to PASSHE and the Board of Governors.”

Mr. Dixon was named to the Board of Governors by then-Governor Dick Thornburgh in January 1983, shortly after the creation of the State System. He subsequently was reappointed to the Board by both Governor Robert P. Casey and Governor Tom Ridge, serving on the Board for more than 17 years. He served as Board chairman during his entire tenure on the Board, which concluded in June 2000.

The 20-member Board of Governors has overall responsibility for administering the State System. The Board establishes broad fiscal, personnel and educational policies under which the universities operate.

Mr. Dixon's volunteer service to higher education extended beyond the State System. He previously chaired the boards of both Temple and Widener universities and also served on the boards of both the University of Pennsylvania and Lafayette College. He was a member of dozens of other boards and commissions, having served as chairman or president of several, including the Fairmount Park Commission, Delaware River Port Authority, Philadelphia Art Commission and the State Horse Racing Commission.

During his lifetime he held ownership positions with most of the major Philadelphia sports teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies, Flyers and 76ers.

With more than 107,000 students, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth. The 14 PASSHE universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. More than 405,000 PASSHE alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.