Peter Liacouras, who as president helped transform Temple University from primarily a commuter school to a major public research institution, has died. He was 85.
The university said Liacouras died Thursday after a long illness.
He was Temple's seventh president from 1982 to 2000, a tenure exceeded only by the university's founder. He was also law school dean for a decade and a law professor.
As president, Liacouras spearheaded a major transformation of the school's main campus through nearly $1 billion in capital projects. The school's sports and entertainment venue — The Liacouras Center — is named after him.
His legacy is also reflected in the Temple "T'' logo designed by art students during his presidency.
A memorial service will be held May 20 at the Temple Performing Arts Center.