Mustang News Staff Report
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California State University Board of Trustees member Mehas died Saturday from a heart aneurysm at the age of 73, after devoting nearly 50 years to serving higher education.
Mehas was celebrating his 50th year working in education, including a stint as the secretary of education for former Gov. George Deukmejian.
“Dr. Mehas committed his entire life to everything positive through education and his work and efforts touched education at every level,” CSU Chancellor Timothy White said in a public statement. “The entire California State University family is diminished by his loss.”
The Board of Trustees was one of 11 agencies Mehas was representing when he died. He had been on the board since 2008, and was scheduled to serve through 2015.
He was a four-term Fresno County superintendent and was named to the U.S. Secretary of Education’s National Advisory Committee on Accreditation and Institutional Eligibility.
ABC’s Fresno affiliate reported Mehas had just returned from a trip to Turkey and Greece with his wife, Demi, when he checked into St. Agnes Hospital with some mild discomfort.
Close friend Mike Woods said Mehas asked Demi to get some playing cards, then suffered a ruptured artery in the chest.
He served on dozens of state and federal boards through the years, including the Governor’s California Commission on Educational Quality and the National Governor’s Association Education Advisory Committee.
President George H.W. Bush named Mehas to the advisory commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans in 1991. Mehas was a speaker at the Republican National Convention when Bush sought reelection in 1992.
While Mehas was a political figure, his calm presence helped him communicate with students of all backgrounds, Fresno State Associated Students, Inc. President Moses Menchaca said in a public statement.
“Dr. Mehas was truly an inspiration and a mentor and was the voice of reason even when others disagreed,” Menchaca said. “The CSU and Fresno State will truly miss him, but his work will last for generations.
Benjy Egel contributed to this staff report.