By AP/KWMU
St. Charles, MO – The president of Lindenwood University, Dennis Spellman, died Wednesday of cancer. He was 71.
The Texas native took over the campus in 1989 at a time when the college faced closure because of such low enrollment. It has since grown to a campus with 15,000 students and nine more buildings than when Spellman started. It also went from being a college to a university.
Lindenwood's chief academic officer, James Evans, will serve as acting president.
There will be a memorial service for Spellman next Friday (Sept. 8) at Lindenwood's Hyland Performance Arena, at 2:00 p.m.
Memorial contributions can be made to the university in honor of the American Humanics Program. Send memorials to the development office, attn. Charlsie Floyd, 209 South Kingshighway, St. Charles, MO 63301.