"Bernie"

By Jim Joanos

When Bernie Sliger died in October, the Florida State University sports program lost a valuable leader, supporter and fan.

Bernie Sliger

During Sliger's tenure as president of Florida State (1976-91, 93), some very important developments took place. In academics, they included the establishment of new schools including the college of engineering and the film school as well as the establishment of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. There was lots of new construction on campus, the most noteworthy of which was the development of the University Center which houses the football stadium, several academic colleges, and student services. It also serves as the center piece for the athletic program. It was also during Bernie's watch that FSU advanced dramatically in the realm of athletics. Noteworthy achievements included admission into the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference (1991) and FSU's first ever national championship in football.

Sliger grew up in the backwoods of Michigan's upper peninsula in a place appropriately called, "Trout Creek" and never forgot his roots. He loved sports and participated in whatever high school team was in season. When he graduated from high school it was 1943 and the U.S. was in the midst of World War II. So, at age 19, he joined the Army and like so many others of the "Greatest Generation" went to war. He rose to the rank of sergeant and served in the famous Third Army commanded by General George Patton in the European theatre of war. When the war ended, he went home and married his childhood sweetheart, Greta, and began his collegiate education at Michigan State University. Ultimately, he obtained three degrees from MSU, all in Economics, a B.A. (1949), a M.A. (1950), and a Ph.D. (1955). Somewhere during that span, he taught and coached in high schools.

From 1953 to 1968, Bernie was a member of the Louisiana State University faculty, teaching economics. From 1961 to 65, he chaired the Economics Department of LSU and from 1965 to 68, he was the Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Academic Affairs of that university. Louisiana's state government then came calling and Sliger was appointed the Secretary of Administration for that state. From 1969 to 72, he served as the Executive Director of Louisiana's Board of Regents.

He came to Tallahassee in 1969 and became Florida State's Executive Vice-President during Stanley Marshall's tenure as president. He held that position until 1976 when he became President of the university. He served as president continuously until 1991 and then again in 1993. During his tenure as FSU's president, he also held numerous distinguished positions including membership on the Atlanta Board of Trustees of the Federal Reserve Bank (1983-85) and on the National Collegiate Athletics Association Presidents Commission (1987-91).

Bernie was a regular guy. He wore a suit only when it was necessary. Usually his dress included a short sleeved shirt and slacks. He had lots of friends. They came from all walks of life. He was as comfortable with the CEOs of major corporations as he was with the maintenance workers around the campus. One of the most meaningful things that he created for FSU was the tradition of "The President's Ice Cream Social." Once a year, he would invite all of the university's students to a giant ice cream party on the lawn of the president's home. In that setting, in the midst of those young people, he was at his best. Even the students called him "Bernie."

My fondest memories of Bernie were those special occasions when I got to watch FSU athletic games with Bernie. They included nights sitting in the open bleachers watching FSU baseball games back before the stadium was upgraded to its present status. Bernie was like any other dedicated fan. He fussed about the officiating and cheered loudly when a Seminole hit a home run. One of our secrets was that he liked to chew tobacco while watching the games. Once he disappeared for about four innings. When he got back, he complained about having to go to two different convenience stores before he could get some chewing tobacco.

At away football games, rather than making arrangements to sit in a fancy box, he usually sat with the FSU fans. As anybody knows who has gone to away games those are generally poor seats. I remember one game at Virginia before that stadium was renovated that the FSU fans were seated not in the end zone but beyond it. They were bad seats but there was Bernie right there with us. In fact, I had bragging rights over Bernie because my seat was a yard or two closer to the end zone than his. He laughed when I boasted that I "must have a good seat because it is better than the president's." In addition to all the rest that he did for FSU, he was definitely one of the all time great fans.

In summary, there may be others who will come along and equal the academic achievements of Dr. Sliger. However, I doubt seriously that there will ever be another president that will ever love the people of FSU and be loved by them than Bernie. Dr. Sliger, we shall miss you.