View source for T. K. Wetherell

{{Short description|American politician and educator (1945–2018)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = T. K. Wetherell
|image = T. K. Wetherell.jpg
|office = 13th President of the [[Florida State University]]
|term_start = January 6, 2003
|term_end = January 31, 2010
|predecessor = [[Sandy D'Alemberte]]
|successor = [[Eric J. Barron]]
|office1 = 4th President of the [[Tallahassee Community College]]
|term_start1 = 1995
|term_end1 = 2001
|predecessor1 = James H. Hinson, Jr.
|successor1 = [[William D. Law]]
|office2 = 86th [[Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives]]
|term_start2 = November 20, 1990
|term_end2 = November 17, 1992
|predecessor2 = [[Tom Gustafson]]
|successor2 = [[Bolley Johnson]]
|state_house3 = Florida
|district3 = 29th
|term_start3 = November 2, 1982
|term_end3 = November 3, 1992
|predecessor3 = [[Tom C. Brown]]
|successor3 = [[Charlie Roberts (politician)|Charlie Roberts]]
|state5 = Florida
|state_house5 = Florida
|district5 = [[Florida's 31st House district|31st]]
|term_start5 = November 4, 1980
|term_end5 = November 2, 1982 
|predecessor5 = [[J. Hyatt Brown]]
|successor5 = [[Winston Gardner Jr.]]
|birth_name = Thomas Kent Wetherell
|birth_date = {{birth date|1945|12|22}}
|birth_place = [[Daytona Beach, Florida]], U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|2018|12|16|1945|12|22}}
|death_place = [[Tallahassee, Florida]], U.S.
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Peggy Thompson|1967|1987|end=divorced}}<ref name=OBIT />
* {{marriage|[[Virginia Bass Wetherell|Virginia Bass]]|1988|<!-- Omission per Template:Marriage instructions -->}}
}}
|children = 3, including [[T. Kent Wetherell II|Kent]]
|education = [[Florida State University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Master of Education|MEd]], [[Doctor of Education|EdD]])
|known_for = Rebuilding Florida State University
}}
'''Thomas Kent Wetherell''' (December 22, 1945 – December 16, 2018) was an American politician and educator. He served as a member of the [[Florida House of Representatives]] from 1980 to 1992, and was president of [[Florida State University]] from 2003 through 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=223536 |title=FL State House 29 Race - Nov 02, 1982 |publisher=Our Campaigns |accessdate=2019-10-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=216658 |title=FL State House 29 Race - Nov 06, 1990 |publisher=Our Campaigns |accessdate=2019-10-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=222410 |title=FL State House 031 Race - Nov 04, 1980 |publisher=Our Campaigns |accessdate=2019-10-16}}</ref>

==Early life==
Wetherell was born in [[Daytona Beach, Florida]], to a well known pioneer family of the Daytona Beach area. His father, Thomas James Wetherell, was born in [[Holly Hill, Florida|Holly Hill]] on February 16, 1912, and his mother was Mildred Juanita Kent Wetherell. His paternal great grandparents Thomas Wetherell (1845-1921) and Margaret Wetherell who travelled to the United States by schooner from [[Durham, England]], arrived in the Daytona Beach area in 1876. His grandfather, Thomas Wetherell (1867–1945), was involved in many of the firsts in the area including helping build the [[Ponce de Leon Inlet Light|Ponce de Leon Lighthouse]]. Wetherell attended Port Orange Elementary School and [[Mainland High School]]. He attended [[Florida State University]] (FSU) on a [[American football|football]] [[scholarship]] as a wide receiver and played from 1963 to 1967. Unfortunately for Wetherell, other teammates included [[Fred Biletnikoff]] and [[Ron Sellers]], both future hall of famers.<ref name=STEP /> While at FSU, Wetherell joined the [[Phi Delta Theta]] fraternity. He earned two [[academic degree]]s in [[social studies]] and education, in 1967 and 1968. In 1974, he received a [[doctorate]] in education administration from FSU.<ref name=EX>{{cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article223184750.html|title=Ex-Florida State University President Wetherell dies at 72|last=Farrington|first=Brendan|date=December 16, 2018|website=Miami Herald|language=en|access-date=December 22, 2018}}</ref>

==Political career==
While in Daytona, Wetherell was inspired by the success of [[J. Hyatt Brown]], another Mainland H.S. graduate, and decided to try politics.<ref name=STEP /> Wetherell, a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], was a member of the [[Florida House of Representatives]] from 1980 to 1992, and Speaker of the House in 1991 and 1992.<ref name=OBIT>{{cite news|url=https://eu.tallahassee.com/story/news/2018/12/18/funeral-service-fsu-president-emeritus-t-k-wetherell-friday-ruby-diamond/2341652002/|title=Funeral service for FSU President Emeritus T.K. Wetherell to be held Friday at Ruby Diamond|last1=Dobson|first1=Byron|date=December 18, 2018|work=Tallahassee Democrat|accessdate=December 18, 2018|language=en}}</ref> He served as chair of the House's appropriations and education committees.<ref name="death" /> While speaker, he blocked Republican redistricting actions aimed at limiting the impact of black voters. He supervised reform of campaign and state ethics laws. He also supported the movement to reduce state government spending while simultaneously pushing the expenditure of $38 million for construction of the FSU University Center which eventually cost $100 million.<ref name=STEP />

[[James Harold Thompson]], speaker of the house prior to T.K., commented that Wetherell thoroughly understood the appropriations process and that knowledge helped him be successful at TCC and FSU. "He set in motion a recognition of excellence in higher education that has been carried over by others inside and outside of the Legislature.”<ref name=death />

== Educational career==
Wetherell's first position was at FSU as an academic counselor for student-athletes. He was then hired to assist the dean of housing at ''Florida Technological University'' (now [[University of Central Florida]]), then director of housing and assistant to the vice president.<ref name=WAY /><ref name=death /> He became an associate professor of education at [[Bethune-Cookman University|Bethune-Cookman College]] before becoming dean, provost and vice president at [[Daytona State College|Daytona Beach Community College]].<ref name="TK" /><ref name=STEP /><ref name=death />

He was considered for President at the [[University of West Florida]] in 1987, but not selected.<ref name=STEP /> When FSU President [[Bernard F. Sliger]] resigned in 1991, Wetherell was a finalist as his replacement, but Dale Lick was chosen.<ref name=STEP />
When Lick left after a few years, Wetherell was again one of two, but [[Sandy D'Alemberte]] got the nod.<ref name=STEP />

After leaving the Florida legislature, he was president of the [[Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida]].<ref name=death />

===TCC===
Wetherell served as president of [[Tallahassee Community College]] (TCC) from 1995 to 2001. During his time as president, enrollment doubled as did the number of buildings on campus<ref name=STEP /><ref name="death" /> including a Student Union, health studies and  second-floor additions for English, extended studies and security. Permits for a History and Social Sciences building had been submitted when he resigned. That building was eventually named for Wetherell.<ref name=death /> Fifty new programs were added, and TCC was nationally ranked in the top-25 for the number of community college graduates.<ref name=STEP />

After he resigned from his post at TCC, Wetherell was a [[lobbyist]] for the ''Southern Strategy Group''.<ref name="death" />

===FSU===
The FSU Board of Trustees appointed Wetherell as president on December 18, 2002.<ref name=STEP>{{cite news|url=https://eu.tallahassee.com/story/news/2018/12/17/t-k-wetherell-archives-fsu-president-florida-state-university-2009/2334961002/|title=2009 profile: Wetherell steps down as Florida State University president, career highlights|last=Ensley|first=Gerald|date=December 17, 2018|work=Tallahassee Democrat|accessdate=December 19, 2018|language=en|orig-year=June 18, 2009}}</ref> He was the first FSU graduate to serve as the school's president.<ref name=LION /> His salary was ranked among the top ten for public university presidents in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2007/11/13/3-state-university-chiefs-among-highest-paid-in-us/|title=3 state-university presidents rank among 10 highest paid in u.s.|last=Freeman|first=Marc|date=November 13, 2007|website=Orlando Sentinel|language=en|access-date=December 22, 2018}}</ref> Later, Lee Hinkle joined Wetherell's administration as a vice president for university relations.<ref name="death" /> In late 2006, he added his voice to efforts by [[Bernie Machen]], president of the [[University of Florida]] to bring a play-off to Division I-A [[college football]].<ref name="Wetzel_Machen">{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/true-champion-010000531--ncaaf.html|title=A true champion|last=Wetzel|first=Dan|authorlink=Dan Wetzel|date=December 5, 2006|website=[[Yahoo!]]|access-date=December 5, 2006}}</ref>

President Wetherell's accomplishments at FSU:
* Highlighted the history of FSU by erecting statues in tribute to the school's black pioneers, women's college history and past presidents. He expanded the [[FSU Legacy Walk]] begun by President [[Bernard F. Sliger]] in 1989 and added a statue and stained-glass wall for football legend [[Bobby Bowden]].<ref name=STEP /><ref name=EX />
* The ''Applied Superconductivity Center'' accepted an invitation to move from the [[University of Wisconsin]] to the [[National High Magnetic Field Laboratory]] at [[Innovation Park (Tallahassee)|Innovation Park]] in Tallahassee after 20 years in [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]].<ref name=STEP /><ref name=EX />
* The ''FSU College of Medicine'' graduated its first class in 2005 and was accredited.<ref name=death /> Their building was completed in 2006.<ref name=PSY /> Six regional campuses were established including research collaborations with the [[Mayo Clinic]] in Jacksonville and [[Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare]].<ref name=death /> 
* New buildings in 2008 included the ''[[Jim King (politician)|Jim King Life Sciences]]'' building,<ref name=death /> the ''Psychology'' building,<ref name=PSY>{{cite web |title=New Psychology Building to advance department's research goals |url=https://news.fsu.edu/news/health-medicine/2008/10/10/new-psychology-building-advance-departments-research-goals/ |website=News.fsu.edu |date=October 10, 2008 |publisher=Florida State University |access-date=8 June 2023 |ref=October 10, 2008}}</ref> and the ''Chemical Sciences Laboratory'' (CSL) building.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Start of the 21st Century (2000-2010) |url=https://www.chem.fsu.edu/department-history/the-start-of-the-21st-century/ |website=Chem.fsu.edu |publisher=Florida State University |access-date=7 June 2023}}</ref> 
* TK's wife, [[Virginia Bass Wetherell]], acted as [[project manager]] for planning, construction and furnishing of the new [[President's House (Florida State University)|President's  House]] which opened in August 2007.<ref name="GIN">{{cite web |last1=Irby |first1=Kara l|title=FSU honors former First Lady Virginia Wetherell for her work on President's House |url=https://news.fsu.edu/news/university-news/2019/11/06/fsus-honors-former-first-lady-virginia-wetherell-for-her-work-on-presidents-house/ |website=News.fsu.edu |date=November 6, 2019 |publisher=Florida State University |access-date=19 May 2023}}</ref>
* A new Alumni Center was completed and the old President's house renovated and renamed the ''Pearl Tyner Alumni Welcome Center''.<ref name="RET">{{cite web |title=FSU Retiree Journal |url=https://retiredfaculty.fsu.edu/sites/g/files/upcbnu331/files/media/news-journal/2016-02-arf-journal.pdf |website=retiredfaculty.fsu.edu |publisher=Florida State University |access-date=15 May 2023 |ref=February 2016}}</ref><ref name=death /> 
* Engineered the departure of [[Bobby Bowden]]<ref name="TK" /><ref name=death />
* Helped FSU weather the [[2008 financial crisis]] when state university funding was slashed for three years.<ref name=EX />
* The $33-million [[Ruby Diamond Auditorium]] renovation was completed in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ruby Diamond Auditorium's Grand Reopening to feature new works, Florida State ensembles|url=http://www.fsu.edu/news/2010/09/22/diamond.reopening/|work=Florida State News|publisher=Florida State University|access-date=7 November 2011}}</ref><ref name=STEP /><ref name="TK" />
* Successfully won the battle with the [[NCAA]] over the use of the Seminole name.<ref name=STEP /><ref name="TK" />
* Enhanced the relationship with the [[Seminole Tribe of Florida]] by establishing a scholarship program for students from the Seminole Tribe, creating a Seminole history course, unveiling a bronze statue at the University Center depicting a Seminole family during the [[Second Seminole War]] of the 1830s.<ref name=STEP /><ref name="TK" /> A new tradition includes tribe members participating at commencement ceremonies.<ref name=death /><ref name=EX />
* Created the ''Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors'' which was later renamed the ''Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement''. Graduation rates improved as did student retention.<ref name=death />
* Used brick to transform [[Doak Campbell Stadium]], which looked like an erector set, into a grand coliseum and unified the architecture of Florida State.<ref name="TK" /><ref name=STEP />
* Additional construction of parking garages, residence and dining halls was not as spectacular, but necessary.<ref name=death />
* Wetherell increased the number of doctorates awarded, the total research dollars received by the university, and the academic profile of FSU students which led to new construction projects worth tens of millions.<ref name=death />

Although T. K. Wetherell resigned as FSU's president in 2010, he didn't leave the campus. He moved to a modest office in the College of Education where he taught an online course and monitored the ''Center for Higher Education Research, Training and Innovation'' which helps build portfolios for junior faculty members.<ref name=LION />

==Personal life==
After a 1987 divorce from his first wife, with whom he had a son in 1970,<ref name=LION>{{cite web|url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2014/02/02/the-lion-in-winter/5142425/|title=From the archives: The lion in winter, T.K. Wetherell|last=Blackburn|first=Doug|date=December 17, 2018|website=Tallahassee Democrat|language=en|orig-year=Feb. 2, 2014|access-date=December 22, 2018}}</ref> Wetherell married [[Virginia Bass Wetherell]], a former Florida state government official and state legislator; he gained two stepdaughters from the 1988 marriage. His son, [[T. Kent Wetherell II]] is a lawyer and judge of the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Wetherell, T. Kent II |url=https://www.fjc.gov/node/6731081 |website=fjc.gov |publisher=Federal Judicial Center |access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref>

===Oak Hill===
{{Main|Oak Hill Plantation}}

While serving in the [[Florida House of Representatives|Florida House]], T. K. Wetherell began purchasing parcels of land in the [[Red Hills Region]] of [[Jefferson County, Florida]] that would become the 983-acre Oak Hill Plantation. The property is near [[Lamont, Florida|Lamont]], an [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) 30 miles east of Tallahassee. 
Following their wedding, the couple began planning to build a home on the property. 
Design inspiration for the home came from the historic [[Asa May House (Capps, Florida)|Asa May house]] in nearby [[Capps, Florida]]. Architectural elements from historic buildings being demolished or purchased at auctions were incorporated into the plans. 
Tallahassee's ''Old Floridian Hotel'' was the source of four huge 19th-century windows that were placed at the ends of the main hallways on each side of the first floor. The ceilings are thirteen-feet tall to frame the jumbo windows. The staircase off the grand foyer used pine from the [[Ormond Hotel|Old Ormond Hotel]] which opened in 1888 and was built by [[Henry Flagler]]. Other historic elements from the Ormond Hotel include fireplace mantels, doorknobs, and other hardware. Flooring throughout the house is [[Heart pine|heart-of-pine]]. Construction on a two-story [[Plantation house]] was begun in 1990 and completed the following year.
There are formal living and dining rooms, a library with a comfortable reading area, a parlor with a wet bar, a chef's kitchen outfitted with high-end appliances and an informal dining area; a separate [[Catering|caterer’s]] kitchen; a [[Pantry#Butler's pantry|butler’s pantry]], an office, a [[Home cinema]] featuring [[pediment]]s and light fixtures once in the old Florida Capital building, and a screened porch overlooking the landscaped backyard. The second-floor porch has a view of the lake.

===Honors===
* FSU Football Hall of Fame 1991<ref name="BIO">{{cite web |title=T. K. Wetherell biography |url=https://seminoles.com/t-k-wetherell-bio/ |website=Seminoles Athletics |date=June 17, 2014 |publisher=Florida State University |access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref><ref name=STEP />
* Moore-Stone Award<ref name=BIO />
* the Circle of Gold Award<ref name=BIO />  
* FSU Distinguished Service Award<ref name=BIO /> 
* honorary Doctorate of Letters from [[Flagler College]].<ref name="BIO" />
* ''T. K. Wetherell History and Social Sciences building'' named for him at [[Tallahassee Community College]]<ref name=death />
* Bronze statue of T.K. Wetherell at FSU's Westcott Plaza, unveiled in January 2010<ref>{{cite web |title=Statue of Thomas Kent (T.K.) Wetherell |url=https://legacywalk.fsu.edu/locations/wetherell-statue/ |website=Legacywalk.fsu.edu |publisher=Florida State University |access-date=3 June 2023}}</ref>
* the 8-floor FSU [[University Center (Florida State University)#UC-A|University Center Building "A"]] was named the ''T.K. Wetherell Building''<ref>{{cite web |title=University Center Building A (T. K. Wetherell Building) [UCA, Building 223] |url=http://wikimapia.org/36058/University-Center-Building-A-T-K-Wetherell-Building-UCA-Building-223 |website=Wikimapia |access-date=3 June 2023}}</ref><ref name=STEP />

===Health===
Wetherell was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2002.<ref name="lodge">{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2018/02/23/1-000-acre-plantation-next-to-ted-turners-in.html|title=1,000-acre plantation next to Ted Turner's in Florida hits market for $10.7M|last=Saunders|first=Jessica|date=February 23, 2018|work=Atlanta Business Chronicle|access-date=December 18, 2018}}</ref> According to the [[National Cancer Institute]], Most prostate cancers are slow growing and most men with prostate cancer do not die from it.<ref name="NCI2013TxPt">{{cite web |date=2014-04-08 |title=Prostate Cancer Treatment (PDQ) – Patient Version |url=http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/prostate/Patient/page1/AllPages |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705121244/http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/prostate/Patient/page1/AllPages |archive-date=5 July 2014 |access-date=1 July 2014 |publisher=National Cancer Institute}}</ref>
   
Wetherell had been seeing physicians at the [[Mayo Clinic]] in Jacksonville for several years, but in 2009 his doctors referred him to [[M.D. Anderson Cancer Center]]. His wife Ginger accompanied him to the facility in [[Houston]] and they returned every three weeks for more treatments.<ref name=LION /> However, his cancer battle began to take more and more of his time. 

Wetherell stated, “We’ve been through Expandia and all the drugs. They work for a while and then they quit working. I’ve done different trials. The bottom line is, I knew that this was coming to some degree or another. I knew I couldn’t do the stuff I needed to do at FSU. It’s just a 24/7 job. It’s a great job, I’m glad I did it. But I knew I couldn’t do it at the level I knew it needed to be done.”<ref name=LION /> Wetherell had hoped for a few more years; he was only 65. He resigned as FSU's president on January 31, 2010.

Until his death, he and his wife lived at the 983-acre [[Oak Hill Plantation]] in [[Jefferson County, Florida]], east of Tallahassee.<ref name=lodge /> He was a fan of hunting birds including turkey, dove and quail on the estate. In October 2003 he and his wife announced the donation of the $10 million Oak Hill Plantation to FSU after they die,<ref name=STEP /> and in 2012 or 2013 he changed his will to leave it to his wife.<ref name=lodge/> He also owned a ranch in Montana where he invited family and friends to spend time during summers.<ref name=LION /><ref name="KIND">{{cite web |last1=Morgan |first1=Lucy |title=When relationships between two political parties were kinder and gentler |url=https://floridaphoenix.com/2020/02/14/when-relationships-between-two-political-parties-were-kinder-and-gentler/ |website=Floridaphoenix.com |date=February 14, 2020 |publisher=Florida |access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref>
A close friend noted that Wetherell also loved country music, NASCAR, Blue Bell ice cream and fried food.<ref name="TK">{{cite web |last1=Turner |first1=Jim |title=T.K. Wetherell remembered as smart, clever, colorful |url=https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/state/2018/12/21/tk-wetherell-remembered-as-smart-clever-colorful/6579993007/ |website=News-Journalonline.com |publisher=Daytona Beach News-Journal |access-date=26 May 2023 |ref=Dec. 21, 2018}}</ref> His FSU bio claimed that his interests included athletics, hunting & fishing, aviation and travel.<ref name=WAY>{{cite web |title=Thomas Kent "T.K." Wetherell BS '67, MS '68, Ph.D. '74 ED |url=http://www.fsu.edu/~pres/pages/bio.html |website=Fsu.edu |publisher=Florida State University |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050313165818/http://www.fsu.edu/~pres/pages/bio.html |access-date=26 May 2023|archive-date=March 13, 2005 }}</ref>

After his 2002 cancer diagnosis and 17 years of treatment, he died from complications due to cancer on December 16, 2018, six days before his 73rd birthday.<ref name=death>{{cite web|url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2018/12/16/t-k-wetherell-credited-transforming-florida-state-and-tcc-dies-fsu-obituary-news-tallahassee/2306905002/|title = T.K. Wetherell, credited with transforming Florida State and TCC, dies at age 72|website = [[Tallahassee Democrat]]|last = Dobson|first = Bryan|date = December 16, 2018|accessdate = December 16, 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of Florida State University people]]
*[[List of presidents of Florida State University]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050313165818/http://www.fsu.edu/~pres/pages/bio.html FSU: Office of the President]

{{Speakers of the Florida House of Representatives}}
{{Florida State University presidents}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wetherell, T. K.}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:American football wide receivers]]
[[Category:American lobbyists]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Florida]]
[[Category:Florida State Seminoles football players]]
[[Category:Florida State University alumni]]
[[Category:Mainland High School alumni]]
[[Category:Presidents of Florida State University]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Florida House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Florida House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Daytona Beach, Florida]]
[[Category:Politicians from Daytona Beach, Florida]]
[[Category:Phi Delta Theta members]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Florida Legislature]]