An editorial from The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Stephen Kopp changed the face of Marshall University and Huntington.
As the news of his unexpected death spread Wednesday night, some friends and associates described him as a visionary, and he was that.
But Kopp also was a doer, a giver and most of all a leader.
Through most of his nine years as university president, he dealt with budget concerns and funding cutbacks. Yet, he found a way to add more than $200 million in new buildings and renovations, re-establish a four-year program in engineering, and open new schools of pharmacy, physical therapy and public health.
Those accomplishments not only demonstrate vision, but also a remarkable ability to bring people and resources together to make dreams a reality.
Today, despite the many challenges facing universities, Marshall is better positioned than ever to fulfill its educational mission and help our state and region grow…
