VSU Foundation Board of Trustees member, Larry Colson, died Tuesday night.
Colson was also a member of the Board of the VState Club, formerly known as the Blazer Boosters, and a prominent member of the Valdosta community.
He was present at the VState Club’s second monthly meeting Tuesday night in the University Center Magnolia Room.
These meetings are open to all members of the VState Club. Members are invited to dinner and to hear VSU athletes and coaching staff speak.
According to Thressea Boyd, assistant to the president for communication, emergency medical services (EMS) were called to the University Center between 8 and 9 p.m.
According to Boyd, EMS responded to a call that one of the meetings attendees, of which there were 50 to 65, became ill and that EMS transported him to South Georgia Medical Center.
Boyd could not release any information regarding Colson’s time or cause of death.
John Crawford, VSU Foundation CEO, sent an email to members of the Foundation Board Wednesday morning extending his sympathy that Colson had passed and asking that his family be kept in the members’ prayers.
According to his obituary on http://mcclanefuneralservices.com, Colson was a lifelong member of the Valdosta community. He was born in Valdosta on February 2, 1948.
Colson graduated from Valdosta High School in 1966 and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Valdosta State College.
He founded, and owned, Colson Business Systems and was the co-owner of Splash Zone, a Valdosta car wash.
“He loved his community, and served in various capacities,” the obituary reads. “Larry served on the Guardian Bank Board, South Georgia Medical Center Foundation Board Member, and the Board of Trustees for Valdosta State University.”
Colson was also a Florida Gator Booster. He played in the AT&T Pebble Beach ProAm as an amateur with Paul Azinger, his close friend, for over ten years and was an active member of Park Avenue United Methodist Church, where he served as an usher.
Colson is survived by his wife and three children. Survivors also include his mother, brother, sister-in-law, and nephews, as well as several great nieces and nephews.
Visitation will take place today from 6 to 8 p.m. at Carson McLane Funeral Home. Services will be held on Friday at 11 p.m. at Park Avenue United Methodist Church with Reverends Hale Bishop and Randy Mosley officiating. Interment will be at Sunset Hill Cemetery immediately following.