Lattie F. Coor Jr., the 15th President of ASU, died Thursday evening at the age of 89.
During Coor’s tenure at ASU, he reached major milestones for the University and elevated its status to that of a renowned research institution. Coor became the University's president in 1990 and is known for making ASU what it is today.
He launched Barrett, The Honors College, and expanded the University into a multicampus institution.
President Michael Crow dedicated the University's Lattie F. Coor Hall on the Tempe campus in 2004, saying the grand five-story building lived up to its namesake.
"Lattie's leadership of ASU between 1990 and 2002 was pivotal to the ASU we are today," Crow said.
He worked with Coor for over three decades and said Coor's education, creativity and love for Arizona are what made him a special person to all. Crow said he is indebted to Coor for his support.
"He built a university faculty of stature, and he laid the track for ASU to emerge as a unique institution of higher learning," Crow said.
Councilwoman Laura Pastor wrote a statement regarding Coor's passing as an ASU alumna. She said she's seen the incredible evolution of Coor's work.
"I am saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Lattie Coor, whose leadership transformed Arizona State University and left a lasting impact across our state," Pastor said.
As a former classroom teacher and educator, Pastor said Coor shared the belief that the power of education can save lives.
"Dr. Coor understood that talent exists in every community," Pastor said. "His commitment to expanding educational opportunity helped create lasting pathways for first-generation students and students from historically underserved communities."
Pastor said the investments Coor made into higher education will forever shape lives in Arizona.
"His legacy will continue to be felt through the generations of students, educators, and communities that have benefited from his leadership," Pastor said.
Edited by Alan Deutschendorf, Natalia Jarrett, Senna James and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at apruiz@asu.edu and follow @andiruiz2405 on X.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on X.
Andi Ruiz is a lead politics reporter at the State Press dedicated to serving her community with truth and honesty in her reporting. She has been working in broadcast and news since high school and was recently an anchor at The Cut Network during her first year at Cronkite. She is going into her second year at ASU as a Barrett Honors student studying journalism and mass communication.
