Bill Powers, president of the University of Texas at Austin from 2006 to 2015 and a member of the law school faculty for more than 40 years, has died. He was 72.
The university said Powers died Sunday in Austin from complications from a fall several months earlier and oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy, a rare adult-onset muscle disorder.
Current UT President Greg Fenves says, "Bill was an eloquent and fierce champion for UT students, faculty and staff."
Powers, who served as dean of the law school for six years, taught courses in torts and a freshman philosophy seminar.
The school says Powers' accomplishments included overseeing the successful completion of a $3 billion capital campaign. He also presided over the completion or construction of 13 major buildings on campus.
