West Virginia University issued the following statement Wednesday on the death of Dick Gardner:

“In many respects, West Virginia University owes its fiscal health today to the foundations Dick Gardner laid a quarter of a century ago as the first budget director. Whether as budget director, or later assistant dean of finance in the College of Business and Economics, Dick created an atmosphere of dedication and loyalty and he did it with great humor and a big heart. It many ways, it is his greatest professional legacy,” said Narvel Weese, vice president for administration and finance, who worked alongside Gardner for many years.

“Beyond his professional achievements, Dick was the embodiment of Mountaineer spirit. He knew everybody, talked to everybody and he was dedicated to West Virginia University, even beyond his working years. He will be missed.”

President Emeritus David C. Hardesty Jr., who has known Gardner since the two were young boys in Shinnston, said, “When I got to West Virginia University, I realized that Dick had dedicated his life to the University, but what my family and my friends will remember about him is his incredible sense of humor, generosity of spirit and general good nature. He did a lot of good things, but people liked to be around him because of his optimism and his positive outlook.”

The entire WVU community expresses its condolences to the Gardner family on the loss.

-WVU-

jb/07/11/12

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