The Temple News would like to thank Peter Liacouras for his many contributions to Temple.
The Temple News would like to acknowledge Peter Liacouras for his contributions to the university community from his time as dean of the law school through his presidency. His passion for making the university a better place for the student body showed through all the improvements to the university that still have an impact today.
Under Liacouras’ leadership, Temple began to shake off its commuter roots with the addition of four residence halls as part of his “Temple Town” vision. He also commissioned Tyler School of Art to create the now-iconic Temple “T” and oversaw the construction of the Student Pavilion and Tuttleman Learning Center.
He also cared for the North Philadelphia community in its moments of need by opening Johnson and Hardwick halls’ doors for residents when an armory fire threatened their homes.
Sports fans can also appreciate what Liacouras has done. With football, Liacouras facilitated the team’s moving up to the Division-I level and in 1991, the Owls became members of the Big East Conference. In basketball, Liacouras’ decision to hire John Chaney as the men’s basketball coach would pay some major dividends as it would usher one of the most successful eras in Temple sports history. One also can’t overlook the impact of the Liacouras Center on the North Philadelphia landscape as businesses popped around it and turned Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue into one of the more vibrant areas of Temple.
The Temple News wishes its former president well as he recovers from his November 2011 stroke and would like to say this one more time: Thank you.
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