John Thrasher | |
|---|---|
 Thrasher in 2009 | |
| 15thPresident of Florida State University | |
| In office November 10, 2014 – August 15, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Eric J. Barron |
| Succeeded by | Richard McCullough |
| Member of theFlorida Senate | |
| In office October 7, 2009 – November 7, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Jim King |
| Succeeded by | Travis Hutson |
| Constituency | 8th district (2009–2012) 6th district (2012–2014) |
| Chair of theRepublican Party of Florida | |
| In office February 2010 – January 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Greer |
| Succeeded by | David Bitner |
| 90thSpeaker of the Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office November 17, 1998 – November 21, 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel Webster |
| Succeeded by | Tom Feeney |
| Member of theFlorida House of Representatives from the19th district | |
| In office 1992–2000 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph "Joe" Arnall |
| Succeeded by | Dick Kravitz |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1943-12-18)December 18, 1943 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | May 30, 2025(2025-05-30) (aged 81) Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Jean Thrasher |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Florida State University (BS, JD) |
| Profession |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1966–1970 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | |
John E. Thrasher (December 18, 1943 – May 30, 2025) was an American politician and state legislator in Florida. He was a businessman, lawyer, and lobbyist who served as the 15th president ofFlorida State University.[2] He was approved by theFlorida Board of Governors on November 6, 2014, and took office on November 10, 2014.[3] On September 11, 2020, Thrasher and the university board of trustees announced his retirement in a joint statement. In May 2021,Richard McCullough was chosen by Florida State University's board of trustees to succeed Thrasher.[4][5][6][7]
John Thrasher was born inColumbia, South Carolina, on December 18, 1943.[8] He grew up inJacksonville, Florida, and earned his bachelor's degree in business fromFlorida State University in 1965. As an undergraduate, he was a member ofSigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. After college, he joined the United States Army, serving first in Germany, where he received theCommendation Medal, and later in Vietnam, where he was awarded twoBronze Stars. Thrasher attained the rank ofcaptain before his honorable discharge in 1970. He returned to Tallahassee and earned aJuris Doctor degree with honors from theFlorida State University College of Law in 1972.[2]
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Thrasher began his political career in 1986 with his election to theClay County School Board.[9] He served as vice chairman, then chairman of the board before running for theFlorida House of Representatives. He was elected in 1992 and was re-elected without opposition in 1994, 1996 and 1998.[10][11] In 2009, he was elected to theFlorida Senate in a special election to represent the 8th District, which included parts of the counties ofDuval,Flagler,Nassau,St. Johns andVolusia.[12] After redistricting in 2012, he represented the 6th District which included all of the counties of St. Johns, Flagler,Putnam, as well as parts of Volusia County.[13]
On November 17, 1998, Thrasher was unanimously elected asSpeaker of the House for the 1999 through 2000 term, which passed legislation including "Three Strikes, You're Out", "10-20-Life", "A+ Education Plan", and the largest tax cut in Florida history. Thrasher was cited on two separate occasions for violating Florida state ethics laws during and following his terms as a state representative. He was fined for both violations.[14]
On September 15, 2009, Thrasher won the special Republican Primary election to succeed the late SenatorJim King.[15][16] Thrasher defeatedPonte Vedra political activist Dan Quiggle,Jacksonville City Councilman Art Graham and former House MemberStan Jordan by garnering 39% or 13,247 votes in a four-way race.[17] Thrasher later claimed official victory after the general election on October 6, 2009.
In 2010, Thrasher defeated Charles Perniciaro in the Republican Primary by a vote of 61.8% to 38.2% and later Democrat Deborah Gianoulis, a retired television anchor, by a vote of 60.01% to 39.93% in the general election on November 2, 2010.[18]
While in the Florida Senate, Thrasher served as the chairman of the Rules Committee and the vice-chair of the Budget Subcommittee on Higher Education Appropriations. Additionally, he served on the Budget, Budget Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations, Community Affairs, Judiciary, Reapportionment, Regulated Industries, and Rules Subcommittee on Ethics and Elections.[19]
Within weeks of the resignation of disgraced chairmanJim Greer, Thrasher was recruited to be the next chair. With the backing of his longtime ally, former governorJeb Bush, he won easily his election to become the next chairman of theRepublican Party of Florida and promised to improve transparency, communications and relationships with party activists, and to raise $1 million in six weeks. However he was criticized for signing a secret severance agreement for Jim Greer, who subsequently went to prison.[20]
Under Thrasher's leadership, the party raised $54.7 million, easily topping the $50.8 million raised during the three Greer years and helped deliver a slew of victories at the ballot box.[21]
Under his tenure, the party swept the Florida Cabinet races, picked up four U.S. House seats, won a U.S. Senate race and delivered a two-thirds majority in the Legislature. It also survived a nasty gubernatorial primary and won a tight victory in the general election.[22]
On April 2, 2014,Eric J. Barron assumed the presidency ofPennsylvania State University after serving asFlorida State University's president for four years. He was succeeded by the university's provost,Garnett S. Stokes. In September 2014, Thrasher was appointed by the board of trustees of FSU by a vote of 11–2 to become the institution's 15th president. The appointment was approved by theFlorida Board of Governors on November 6, 2014.[3] On March 17, 2015, he was formally confirmed to the position at aninvestiture ceremony held at the school. Thrasher was an alumnus of FSU.[23]
Thrasher died from cancer inOrlando, Florida, on May 30, 2025, at the age of 81.[24]
| Florida House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joseph "Joe" Arnall | Member of theFlorida House of Representatives from the 19th district 1992–2000 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives 1998–2000 | Succeeded by |
| Florida Senate | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theFlorida Senate from the 8th district 2009–2012 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of theFlorida Senate from the 6th district 2012–2014 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chair of theFlorida Republican Party 2010–2011 | Succeeded by |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by | President ofFlorida State University 2014–2021 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
