50@50: Paul Gallagher visits abandoned airport that would become FIU

To celebrate the university’s 50th anniversary, FIU News is sharing 50 moments in FIU’s history as part of our “50@50″ series.

By Joel Delgado ’12 MS ’17 

When Paul Gallagher first visited FIU in 1971, there wasn’t much.

There were no students nor classrooms yet – just an abandoned airport tower, a vacant lot, and a university president with lofty dreams and aspirations of what Miami’s first public university could be.

In the video clip above, part of the Beyond The Tower: The History of Florida International University documentary released in 2002, Gallagher recalls the visit to what later became Modesto A. Maidique Campus with the university’s founding president Charles “Chuck” Perry.

While Gallagher may have initially thought Perry’s vision a bit far-fetched, he himself became an instrumental figure in helping FIU become even more than anything Perry could have imagined.

He joined FIU in 1971 and served in various leadership capacities during his 36 years of service at the university – including associate dean for education, acting provost, and as vice president for the North Campus (Biscayne Bay), student affairs and advancement. He retired in 2007 as Senior Vice President, Emeritus.

While at FIU, he was instrumental in the creation of the College of Law, the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and the FIU football program, the latter probably his proudest accomplishment. He also played a key role in the addition of residence halls to the university.

Gallagher passed away on July 30, 2013 at his home in St. Augustine, FL and was honored by family, friends, colleagues and former employees in an emotional Celebration of Life event held on campus in October 2013.