Nelson Townsend, who was named interim athletics director at Florida A&M University in December, died earlier this month at a hospital in Tallahassee. He was 73 years old.
Townsend served as athletics director at the university from 1986 to 1987 and again from 2005 to 2007. Townsend was also the first African American to serve as athletic director at the University at Buffalo. He also served as athletics director at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Elmira Mangum, president of Florida A&M University, said that “the university lost a dear friend, excellent leader, and administrator.”
Nelson was also an alumni of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, an HBCU and a member of the Hall of Fame. .