Thomas Wheat, 76, a former NIU professor, died Friday in Venice, Fla.

The first of his family to attend college, Wheat earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education at the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Ind. He received his doctorate in education from Ball State University and became a professor in NIU’s College of Education in 1970. He was the fifth director of NIU’s Literacy Clinic and was active in the International Reading Association.

“He was very proud to be the director of the clinic and it was something he felt very strongly about, being able to share the gift of reading with students who might struggle or teaching diagnostics to graduate students…,” said Marc Wheat, Thomas Wheat’s son.

Marc Wheat said his father was most proud of the time he spent in education.

“…I think continuing on through his doctoral program was quite a challenge, and he was very proud that he was able to make those sacrifices to give back to the community through his chosen profession,” Marc Wheat said.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the NIU Literacy Clinic, 3100 Sycamore Road, or the Germanna Foundation, PO Box 279 in Locust Grove, Va.