Troy University is mourning the passing of former beloved administrator Dr. Don Jeffrey.

Dr. Jeffrey, who retired from the University in 2023 after 46 years of service, passed away on Jan. 28. He was 78. 

Dr. Jeffrey earned his bachelor’s degree from TROY, a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee and his Ph.D. from Florida State University. He began his teaching career in 1975 at Samson High School before joining the TROY faculty. 

During his 46 years of service at Troy University, Dr. Jeffrey served as a faculty member, director of aquatics, chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion and Dean of the College of Health and Human Services. He also served interim roles as Dean of the College of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Communication and Fine Arts. 

Dr. Jeffrey twice served in the role of Vice Chancellor of the Dothan Campus – first from 2007 to 2014 and again from January 2016 until his retirement in 2023. 

In addition to his academic career, he served honorably in the United States Army for 22 years, including tours during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

“Dr. Don Jeffrey is and shall remain an icon at Troy University,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor. “Throughout my tenure at TROY, I can remember no one who had a greater effect on the institution or on me personally. Don was a warrior who proved himself in battle, and he was a warrior within the ranks of higher education. His pioneering spirit led to the establishment of many firsts — the first bachelor’s degree in sport management, the first master’s degree in sport management, and the first Ph.D. in Sport management — all firsts within the state of Alabama. My condolences and blessings are extended to Betty Jane and Don’s entire family during this difficult period. Don is gone, but he shall never be forgotten.”

Dr. Kirk Davis, Chief Operating Officer of the Dothan Campus, said Dr. Jeffrey had an immense impact on the campus and the larger community.

“The Dothan Campus and the Wiregrass community deeply feel the absence of Dr. Jeffrey’s passion and unwavering dedication to higher education,” Davis said. “His impactful leadership will not be forgotten.”

Dr. Lance Tatum, former professor and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at TROY who now serves as President of Northwest Missouri State University, said Dr. Jeffrey’s encouragement and support had a tremendous impact on his life. 

“I met Don in the fall of 1986, and I had no idea that it would be the beginning of a journey that would take me from Troy to Tallahassee to Georgia and then back to Troy,” Tatum said. “He knew he had an impact on my life, but I don’t think he ever realized just how much of an impact he had. I never would have considered pursuing my Ph.D. at Florida State had it not been for Don Jeffrey. He saw something in me that others might not have. To me, Don’s greatest gifts were his loyalty to those he cared about and his belief that you could do or achieve anything.”

Dr. Tatum began his tenure as Northwest Missouri’s president on June 1, 2023, the realization of a dream not only for himself but also for Dr. Jeffrey.

“I believe he dreamed of me becoming a college president as much as I did,” Tatum said. “He would say, ‘Lance, you are going to be a university president one day.’  He cared more about the success of others. He wanted to see people succeed and did everything in his power to help them do so. That to me, was Don Jeffrey.”

Dr. Jeffrey was preceded in death by his parents and oldest brother, Ronnie.

Dr. Jeffrey is survived by his devoted wife, Betty; three children, James (Barbara), Chris (Jennifer), and Rebecca; six grandchildren, Danielle, Christopher, Grayson, Brooke, Kayla, and Logan; five great-grandchildren, four brothers and one sister, Vay, Ralph, Bart, Cathy and Dean; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Feb. 15, at 2 p.m. in Claudia Crosby Theater on the Troy Campus. The family will receive visitors at a reception immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a charity of your choice in honor of Dr. Jeffrey’s legacy.