'A tremendous loss': Florida A&M University Trustee Thomas 'Tommy' Dortch Jr. dies
Florida A&M University Trustee Thomas Dortch Jr., known for his business savvy and advocacy of minority businesses, died Wednesday — a day ahead of FAMU’s full Board of Trustees meeting.
Dortch, a Toccoa, Georgia, native who was also known as “Tommy” by family and friends, was 72.
Choking back tears, FAMU Board of Trustees Chair Kelvin Lawson made the devastating announcement to trustees at the end of Wednesday's committee meetings.
He says an official prayer will be held Thursday on FAMU's campus.
FAMU released a statement Wednesday evening following news of the death, in which Lawson and President Larry Robinson along with the rest of the university mourned Dortch's death and extended condolences to his family.
“This is a sad day for FAMU," Lawson said in the release. "Thomas Dortch has been an outstanding trustee and friend. He made significant contributions to this university, both in his leadership and monetarily. He even brought friends to the table to contribute philanthropically to the university."
Dortch served as a trustee at the university since 2016 and was reappointed to serve an additional five years in 2020. His term would have ended in January 2026.
He brought to the trustee board a strong business acumen, often sharing details of best business practices he adopted in his personal business dealings in Atlanta, Georgia and elsewhere.
Dortch was chairman and chief executive officer of TWD Inc. based in Atlanta, and he was also chairman emeritus of 100 Black Men of America Inc., a mentoring program headquartered in Atlanta with the goal of improving education and employment opportunities for Black individuals.
He encouraged his colleagues and university leadership to think big and to pay attention to the fine print of contract negotiations with vendors so that FAMU was getting the maximum return and he was an advocate for minority business participation in university transactions as he insisted on leveraging the brand of FAMU.
“What a tremendous loss," FAMU President Larry Robinson said in the release. "He was a world class individual from every perspective. I can't tell you how much he meant to us as a member of our Board of Trustees for a number of years, but also as a parent of students who have matriculated from this institution."
Just last year, the city of Atlanta declared Nov. 7 as Thomas Dortch Jr. Day to recognize the trailblazing community advocate.
“This is a sad day for our city,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement released Wednesday. “We have lost another soldier.”
“Tommy once said that he wanted his legacy to be that he put our young people first,” Dickens added. “Without question, mission accomplished.”
In 1990, Dortch became the state director and served as chief administrator for United States Senator Sam Nunn, being the first African American to serve in the role.
He also established the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation Inc. and co-founded the Georgia Association of Minority Entrepreneurs.
Some of Dortch's other accomplishments included serving as CEO of Atlanta Transportation Systems, Inc., chairman and CEO of Cornerstone Parking, chairman of Lancor Parking Management LLC and managing partner of FAD Consulting LLC.
Although he did not attend FAMU, Dortch’s rich ties to the HBCU (historically Black college and university) culture were seen through his academic credentials as some refer to him as an “HBCU-made legend.”
Dortch earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and pre-professional social work from Fort Valley State University in 1972 and a master's in criminal justice administration from Clark Atlanta University in 1986.
He also received honorary doctor degrees from five colleges and universities — Fayetteville State University, Jarvis Christian College, Fort Valley State University, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Livingstone College.
With Dortch’s passing, the single vacant spot on the university’s Board of Trustees after former Trustee David Lawrence’s resignation in February 2022 is now two openings as eight applicants are currently in the running to fill the positions.
"He will surely be missed, not only as a trustee but as an avid supporter of Florida A&M University,” Lawson added in Wednesday's statement. “It is truly a loss not only to FAMU but to the nation. He would be best described as a humanitarian.”
Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on twitter @tarahjean_.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Trustee, Georgia businessman Thomas Dortch Jr. dies at 72
