Edward Thaddeus “Tad” Foote II, who guided the University of Miami into higher education prominence during his tenure as the institution’s fourth president, died Monday night at age 78 due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease.
“President Foote’s tenure as president from 1981 to 2001 was marked by a far-reaching and rigorous pursuit of academic excellence that helped to distinguish our students and faculty among the finest in the nation,” current President Julio Frenk said.
Foote was 43 when he took the reins at Miami, succeeding Henry King Stanford. During Foote’s administration:
• The university’s endowment increased nearly tenfold, from $47.4 million in 1981 to $465.2 million in 2000.
• He pared enrollment and raised academic standards.
• Research funding increased from $58.1 million when he took over, to $193.9 million in 2000.
• The School of Architecture, the School of Communication and the School of International Studies were created during his time; and approximately 50 buildings were constructed on campus.
• The football team won four national championships, the baseball team won three College World Series titles and he reinstated the basketball program.
Donna Shalala, who succeeded Foote as president upon his resignation, called Foote “a remarkable leader and a real gentleman.”
