Lattie Finch Coor Jr. (born September 26, 1936) is an American academic specialising in public policy and the past president of two universities. He was the 15th President of Arizona State University (1990–2002) and the 21st President of the University of Vermont (1976–1989).

Lattie F. Coor
15th President of Arizona State University
In office
1990–2002
Preceded byJ. Russell Nelson
Succeeded byMichael M. Crow
21st President of the University of Vermont
In office
1976–1989
Preceded byEdward C. Andrews
Succeeded byGeorge H. Davis
Personal details
Born (1936-09-26) September 26, 1936 (age 87)
Phoenix, Arizona
SpouseElva Wingfield Coor
Alma materNorthern Arizona University
Washington University in St. Louis
ProfessionProfessor of Public Policy
WebsiteCenter for the Future of Arizona

Biography edit

Lattie Coor was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on September 26, 1936, the son of Lattie Finch Coor Sr. and Elnora (née Witten) Coor.[1] His father was a prominent local educator who was the teaching Principal of Avondale Elementary School in 1936 and later became the first Superintendent of the Avondale Elementary School District.[2]

Coor graduated from Northern Arizona University in 1958 with a BA in political science. He received his MA and PhD from Washington University in St. Louis where his 1964 doctoral dissertation was titled The Increasing Vulnerability of the American Governor. He remained at Washington University for the next ten years as a faculty member and eventually as its Vice Chancellor. He left in 1976 when he became the 21st President of the University of Vermont. He served in that capacity until 1989 and then moved to Arizona State University where he became its 15th President.[3][4] He was an active member of the NCAA Presidents Commission during the battle for control of college sports.[5]

After his retirement from the presidency of ASU in 2002 he stayed on as Professor and Ernest W. McFarland Chair in Leadership and Public Policy in the university's School of Public Affairs. In 2002 he also co-founded a "do tank", Center for the Future of Arizona, and serves as chairman and Founding Director.[1]

Personal life edit

Coor married Dr. Ina Alexis Fitzhenry (deceased) in 1964. [6] He has two sons, W. Kendall Coor (deceased),[7] Dr. Colin F. Coor and a daughter Dr. Farryl MW Bertmann (née Coor) from his first marriage to Ina Fitzhenry-Coor.[8] In 1994, he was re-married to Elva Wingfield. [4][9] Coor is a grandfather to Maximilian C. Bertmann, Sebastian L.J. Bertmann and Kaiden Coor. [10]

Legacy edit

The six-story Lattie F. Coor Hall, located in the northwestern portion of Arizona State University, was dedicated January 7, 2004.[11] It is one of the largest campus buildings and houses a variety of programs and classrooms. The Lattie F. Coor House at the University of Vermont was dedicated May 16, 2013 and houses the University's College of Arts and Sciences administrative offices.[12]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Arizona State University Libraries University Archives. Inventory of the Office of the President Records 1929–2002. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  2. ^ McCann, Emily (January 22, 2010). "Avondale Elem. District looks back, Celebrates 115th anniversary" Archived February 9, 2013, at archive.today. West Valley View. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  3. ^ New York Times. (August 30, 1989). "U. of Vermont President To Head Arizona State". Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  4. ^ a b University of Vermont. "Former Presidents of the University of Vermont: Lattie Coor (1976–1989)" Archived February 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  5. ^ Rose, Laurence M. "College Presidents and the NCAA Presidents ' Commission: All Bark and No Bite". repository.law.miami.edu. University of Miami. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  6. ^ https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/burlingtonfreepress/name/ina-fitzhenry-obituary?id=21105872
  7. ^ https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/burlingtonfreepress/name/w-kendall-coor-obituary?id=11017301
  8. ^ https://www.uvm.edu/trustees/former-president-lattie-coor
  9. ^ Trends Magazine (July/August 2006). "Fabulous Phoenicians: Lattie and Elva Coor" Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  10. ^ https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/burlingtonfreepress/name/ina-fitzhenry-obituary?id=21105872
  11. ^ "ASU Virtual Tour Lattie F. Coor Hall". Arizona State University. May 9, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  12. ^ "Dedication Ceremony Held for Newly Named Lattie F. Coor House". University of Vermont. Retrieved September 21, 2023.