The following obituary was written by Wheeling News-Register/The Intelligencer Reporter Ian Hicks.

One would have been hard-pressed to find a more enthusiastic Hilltoppers fan than James Chapman during his 14 years as president of what was then known as West Liberty State College.

Dr. James Chapman

Chapman died Saturday in Spring Arbor, Mich. He was 83.

Chapman served as West Liberty’s president from 1970 to 1984. He took over following a period of unprecedented enrollment growth during the 1960s, and under his watch West Liberty developed an associate’s degree program in nursing that by 1988 grew into a four-year program that remains among the school’s most popular offerings.

Mary Chapman said her husband enjoyed the opportunity to grow as an administrator during his time at West Liberty.

“We loved it. We were there for 14 years, and he just loved every part of it,” she said of her husband.

After his retirement from West Liberty, Chapman served four years as president of Spring Arbor University. Over the past few years, he and Mary split time between living in Michigan and Lakeland, Fla.

In addition to his wife, he leaves behind a son, two grandchildren, a brother and a sister.

Visitation is planed from 5-8 p.m. Friday at the Watson Funeral Chapel in Spring Arbor, Mich. Funeral services are planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at the Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church.

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