NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. -- It's easy to spot the legacy of Dr. Robert Judson on each of Pasco-Hernando State College's five campuses, as long as you know where to look.

  • Dr. Robert Judson died Monday at 77
  • He was school's first instructor, recruiter and financial aid coordinator
  • Judson helped establish programs like radiography, drafting

There are the physical reminders, like the health programs building and childcare center on West Campus that he opened and led the way in building.

On Dade City's East Campus, he opened the Public Service Technology Building. North Campus in Brooksville was remodeled thanks to him. Judson also bought the land for the Spring Hill Campus.

Then there are the programs that he helped establish – radiography and drafting and design.

"I would often say in the introduction that this is the house that Judson and Jones built," said the college's current president, Timothy Beard, referring to Judson and PHSC's first president, Milton Jones. "His imprint is pretty much on the entire institution."

That institution is in mourning following the death of Judson on Monday. He was 77 years old.

Hired at PHSC in 1972, Judson became the school's first instructor, first recruiter, and first financial aid coordinator. He was promoted to East Campus dean in 1976. When he became the second president of the school in 1994, he was the first African American to reach that position in the Florida Community College System.

"Diversity is something that we really emphasize in higher education," Beard said. "We strongly believe it's important to have individuals such as Dr. Judson, who was the first African American president, to lay a foundation for people like myself who could come along and stand on his shoulders," Beard said. 

Judson was no longer president by the time Beard was hired as vice president of student affairs in 2007, but Beard said they developed a professional, friendly relationship.

"Being here from day one, he was able to share a lot of history," Beard said.

Though passionate about education, Beard said there were other parts of his life Judson cared deeply about.

"Very good to be around -- friendly, laughable, liked to have a good time, loved family. I understand he was the barbecue king," Beard said. "He was a man that others admired. He was a very intelligent man, a man with vision and passion. Today, even though he may be gone in his body, we will celebrate the spirit of Dr. Judson at this institution."