The passing of Charlie Reed, 75, one-time university system chancellor of Florida, was well noted around the state. He was known for his blunt demeanor as well as his advocacy of a strong, centralized authority for higher education and a goal to improve the state’s national reputation.
USF once felt his wrath. Reed’s response to President Frank Borkowski’s inaugural speech in 1988 was illustrative. In the tradition of inaugural rhetoric, Borkowski aimed high by referencing a goal to put USF into the “top 25” of public universities in the U.S. He summarily heard about it from Reed. Basically, “Who the hell do you think you are down there with such aims? That’s the goal of our flagship university (in Gainesville). You’re a regional university.” Ouch.
The relationship never got appreciably better until President Betty Castor came on board in 1994. She was a player in Tallahassee. Reed would leave in 1998 to lead the California State University System.