William Philip Anthony

William P. Anthony (Bill),75, of Tallahassee, Florida, passed away from pancreatic cancer in his home, October 1, 2018. Bill was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois, where he lived until his family moved to Upper Arlington, Ohio. After completing high school, where he ran track, played football and was the co-captain of his football team, he attended Ohio University on a full football scholarship. He then attended The Ohio State University obtaining his master’s degree in General Business Curriculum and his doctor’s degree in Human Resource Management. After completing his course work for his doctor’s degree, Bill accepted a position on the Management Faculty at Florida State University in 1970. He served for 44 years before retiring as the Carl DeSantis Professor of Management in 2014. He is believed to have been the longest continuously serving member of the business faculty. Bill taught more than 5,000 students at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels.

Bill made numerous contributions to the College of Business. He developed the online capstone course for all business majors; founded and directed the Center for Human Resource Management; founded the Carl DeSantis Center for Executive Management Education and created the College of Business Alumni Advisory Council, now the Board of Governors. He also chaired the Department of Management for three terms over a 12-year period. He published more than 100 manuscripts in top academic journals and more than 20 books during his career, raising the status and visibility of the college across the globe. He was the recipient of numerous honors, including the FSU President’s Continuing Education Award and the MBA Outstanding Professor Award. Recently, Bill was selected for induction into the 2019 Charles A. Rovetta Faculty Hall of Fame for outstanding academic accomplishments and extraordinary contributions as well as his significant impact on students, the university and the community. In addition, the Center for Human Resource Management established the Bill Anthony student scholarship.

Bill was devoted to his loving family, friends, FSU, football, and tailgating (and was known as “the best tailgate griller in town.)” He enjoyed helping and working with Dick, his brother, with Anthony’s Italian Restaurant and Anthony’s Woodfire Grill. Bill looked forward to summer vacations at the beach, holidays and skiing in Vail, Colorado. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

A very special Thank You and Gratitude from his wife and daughters to Father Michael Foley, his cousins, friends, the Visiting Angels and Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center.

Bill is survived by his wife, Roz, of 50 years; his daughters, Cathie Mathe of Austin, Texas and Sarah Frank (Nathan) of Tallahassee, Florida, and his four grandchildren, Mia Catherine, Brennan, Ashley, and Emmie; his sister-in-law, Denise Anthony of Sanford, Florida; his nephew, Tom Hogg (Katie) of Ft. Worth, Texas; and his nieces, Angie Lavelle (Glenn) of Edwards, Colorado and Julia LeBeouf (Ryan) of Oviedo, Florida; and his cousins. He is proceeded in death by his parents, Phil and Amelia Anthony, his sister, Anita Anthony Watkins and his brother, Dick Anthony.

Contributions can be made to the Bill Anthony student scholarship fund by going to the College of Business giving portal link: https://one.fsu.edu/foundation/donate/college/business/donation-form. In the Designation drop down, please select the Center for Personnel and Human Resource Management fund (00959). In the tribute information (bottom of the page), please enter Bill Anthony’s name.

A Celebration of Bill’s life will be held November 19, 2018 at 2:00 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 4665 Thomasville Road. Fellowship will follow in the community center.