Former EMU President John W. Porter dies at the age of 80
John W. Porter, Eastern Michigan University’s 17th president, died Wednesday at the age of 80.
John Porter
Courtesy photo
They include: establishment of the College of Technology, creation of the Olds Student Recreation Center and construction of the College of Business in downtown Ypsilanti.
Porter also was credited for leading the university in when EMU’s football team won the Mid American Conference Championship and the California Bowl in 1987.
During his tenure, Porter also created the university’s first doctorate, which was offered in educational leadership.
EMU Board of Regents Chair Roy Wilbanks worked closely with Porter during his time as president.
"Dr. Porter was a tremendous leader and a strong supporter of urban education in Michigan throughout his career as state (schools) superintendent, as president of Eastern Michigan University and as superintendent of Detroit Public Schools,” Wilbanks said in a release. “While his 10 years at Eastern might be considered a small part of his career, it was a very important time for Eastern.”
The John W. Porter College of Education building at EMU is named after Porter because of the many contributions he made to the university community.
EMU President Susan Martin said Porter left a remarkable legacy at the university.
“He will always be remembered for his outstanding leadership, his innovations and for the stabilizing presence he brought to the institution,” Martin said.
Before coming to EMU, Porter served as the state superintendent of public instruction for Michigan’s schools. He was the youngest chief state school officer in the nation and the first African American to serve as a state’s head of schools.
U.S. Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton all appointed Porter to commissions and councils, ranging from higher education to employment and mental health.
Porter was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., on Aug. 13, 1931. He received his undergraduate degree from Albion College and earned his master’s degree in counseling and guidance and a doctorate in higher education administration from Michigan State University.
Porter, was living in Ann Arbor at the time of his death and is survived by five sons: Earl, John Jr., Levon, David and Steven; and three daughters, Valorie, Portia (Fletcher) and Donna (Welch). He was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary, and his wife, Lois.
There will be a visitation at Liberty Road Chapel of the Nie Family Funeral Home at 3767 West Liberty Road in Ann Arbor from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 6-7. A funeral service will be held Monday, July 9, at 2 p.m. at Liberty Road Chapel.
Katrease Stafford covers the city of Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at KatreaseStafford@annarbor.com. You can also follow her on Twitter.
Comments
romuloid
Sun, Jul 1, 2012 : 11:11 a.m.
As a collegian, Dr. Porter was a Hall-of-Fame basketball player at Albion College. He was an All-MIAA hoopster and league MVP as well as the first Briton player to score 1000 career points.
Housedivided
Sat, Jun 30, 2012 : 5:23 p.m.
I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Porter once and he was such a gentleman. For me it was like talking to my uncle and felt as though I had known him for years. May he rest in peace and I would like to send thoughts of comfort to his family.
rick
Sat, Jun 30, 2012 : 2:30 p.m.
I had the pleasure and honor of dealing with Dr. Porter a number of times.... He was always a true gentleman ....
amelia
Sat, Jun 30, 2012 : 3:45 a.m.
During the 1981-82 school year I lived in Jones Hall, and my room's view was the President's House (then the brick house on campus). That's not the point...he tended to his lawn, as did a crew, but what I remember is my orientation breakfast and he walked around to every table and greeted parents. I always saw him walking around on campus, then later in the day entering his home. What was normalcy then are now precious memories. Rest in Peace, Dr. Porter.
leezee
Sat, Jun 30, 2012 : 1:53 a.m.
While a student at EMU I worked at the library one semester. We were required to work one evening each week. I lived in an apartment on Hamilton at the time and one night, as I walked home on Forest Street, I could hear footsteps behind me coming up fast. I started to get a bit nervous until President Porter passed me at a rapid clip. It was his self-assured rapid pace coming from behind heading to what was the president's house at he time. I've always thought it was so funny that the person I feared was the president of the university.
Cash
Fri, Jun 29, 2012 : 11:01 p.m.
Dr Porter, I will miss you! What a wonderful man. Some things the canned professional obit don't mention....... When he retired he said he was most proud of being able to work amicably with laborers. Imagine that? Perhaps it's because he once was a entry level worker himself and knew the value of hard work. Dr Porter used to go office to office each year HIMSELF to be sure he knew what was REALLY happening. He would ask employees in each area for input. IMAGINE THAT! And he held himself accountable to follow through on each and every thing discussed. We will never see his likes in higher education again. He never saw himself as above or better than any employee. You always wanted to do your best for him. He was a hero for the workers. I cannot think of anyone other than my own family members, I admire more than Dr Porter.