John Thrasher, Florida's former House Speaker and ex-President of Florida State University, passed away following a battle with cancer at the age of 81, his family announced Friday.
"President Thrasher, who also served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and as a member of the Florida Senate, passed away this morning (May 30), surrounded by his family in Orlando," his family released Friday morning.
A longtime Republican, Thrasher served as Speaker of the Florida House from 1998 through 2000, after six years as a state lawmaker. He helped found The Southern Group, a powerful lobbying firm and served as a partner until 2009. He was then elected to the state Senate and served until 2013.
Former Senate President, and current Senator, Don Gaetz called him a "lion of the Senate" in his tribute to the Jacksonville Floridian.
Thrasher was the 15th president of FSU from 2014 through 2021. A celebration of life will be held at the university's Ruby Diamond Concert Hall on Aug. 19.
"The family would like to thank everyone for their well wishes, visits, and prayers during the last month and express their deep gratitude for the doctors and nurses who cared for him at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Moffitt Cancer Center, Orlando Health, and Cornerstone Hospice," the family added.
Thrasher was diagnosed with cancer in April.
