PRINCESS ANNE, Md.
The University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, was mourning the death of William Percy Hytche Sr., a former math professor who led the historically black institution for two decades.
Hytche, 78, died Sunday at his Princess Anne home of an undisclosed illness.
Under Hytche’s leadership, the school more than tripled its enrollment from 1,046 when he took control of the school in 1975 to 3,209 students in 1997. About 32 academic programs were added during his tenure.
“He dedicated his life to this university,” said Ronnie Holden, UMES vice president for Administrative Affairs.
“It was not unusual to stop by his office on a Saturday night at 10 p.m. and see him working there developing reports, plans and talking to legislators on nights and weekends,” Holden told The (Salisbury) Daily Times.
Hytche first came to UMES as a math instructor in 1960, when it was called Maryland State College. Before that he taught at Oklahoma State University. Hytche became chairman of the math department, then chancellor, a job later changed to the title of president.
