A former college student-athlete himself (Polytechnic University, Brooklyn, cross country), he understood more than any other president in UA history the undeniable position of intercollegiate competition in higher education and the vital role athletics can play in heightening public awareness of a university's overall excellence. Understanding, too, that the athletic affiliations foster academic and intellectual alliances, he provided the vision and leadership that propelled Arizona in 1978 into the Pacific-10 Conference, the finest athletic/academic conference in America. During his presidential tenure, Arizona became a Research I institution, joined the highest rank of public universities in the nation, and won its first two NCAA team championships (baseball, 1976 and 1980). Prior to becoming president of the University, he served as Dean of the UA College of Liberal Arts. At the time of his induction, he was president of Research Corporation.