Interim Morehouse President Bill Taggart Dies Suddenly

ATLANTA, GA -- Morehouse College interim President William J. “Bill” Taggart died, the Atlanta school announced Thursday. Taggart passed away suddenly Wednesday from an apparent aneurysm, according to news reports.

Taggart was named interim president of the college on April 7 after the school parted ways with former President John Sylvanus Wilson. The nation’s only all-male historically black college, Morehouse has been in the throes of an administrative shakeup as prominent alumni, including filmmaker Spike Lee and Samuel L. Jackson, have protested what they've characterized as a lack of transparency. SIGN UP: To get notified of more local news like this, click here to sign up for the Atlanta Patch. Or find your Atlanta-area town here. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.

The Morehouse College Board of Trustees released the following statement on Taggart's death:

We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of William J. “Bill” Taggart, a beloved colleague, father and friend. For the past two years, Bill devoted himself wholeheartedly to Morehouse College. We are eternally grateful for his loyal support, counsel and the leadership he provided to students, faculty, staff and alumni. Throughout his tenure, Bill had a positive impact on Morehouse College and the greater Atlanta business community. He leaves behind a long legacy of compassion, integrity and devotion. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.

Before his interim role as president, Taggart served as Morehouse’s chief operating officer since 2015.

According to a bio on Morehouse's website, Taggart's experience includes being CEO of Atlanta Life Financial Group (ALFG) and COO for the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), appointed by U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

This is a developing story. Stay with Patch for the latest.

Image via Morehouse