Former NIU President Clyde J. Wingfield died Thursday, according to NIU Today. He was 80.

Wingfield served as NIU’s ninth president for 10 months from July of 1985 to May of 1986 in a term marked by controversy.

Wingfield earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from East Texas State University and a doctorate from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

He also served in the U.S. Air Force as an intelligence officer during the Korean War.

Wingfield also served as president of Baruch College, City University of New York and State University of New York College at Old Westbury.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.