By AP/KWMU
Carbondale, Ill. – The first black man to serve as president of the Southern Illinois University system has died at the age of 64.
James Walker had experienced a long bout with prostate cancer.
The university says Walker died Sunday at his rural Carbondale home.
Walker had been president of the 35,000 student university since 2000. He announced last June that he planned to retire this summer at the age of 65. But Walker has been on medical leave from the post since September.
In November, former Congressman Glenn Poshard was tapped to succeed Walker as S-I-U's president. Poshard took the helm last month.
Poshard called Walker "one of the most accomplished and dedicated higher education professionals in this country."