H. Carl McCall, the chairman of the board of trustees of the State University of New York, has announced his retirement from the appointed post.
After more than 50 years in public service, the 83-year-old McCall announced Wednesday that he will "pursue other interests."
"After 10 years of service, I have decided to retire as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The State University of New York," he announced in a press release. "I believe that it is time for me to pursue other interests and allow new vision to take SUNY to even higher heights. I want to thank the Governor, trustees, faculty and New York's future leaders, our students, for their endless support as I have served in such a consequential office."
He said serving as SUNY Chairman "has been one of my greatest joys. It has been both rewarding and challenging to help direct the academic fates of our nation’s brightest stars."
McCall's retirement will become effective June 30.
"In the coming months we will celebrate him as a true champion of public higher education and New York State, and we will see a lasting impact of his legacy in the years thereafter," said SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo called the fellow Democrat "a quintessential public servant" and "a trailblazer who paved a path for others to follow."
In a brief statement, United University Professions thanked McCall for his years of public service, saying the SUNY union was "grateful for the work he did" on behalf of SUNY, students and patients.
McCall served as state comptroller from May 1993 through December 2002, a month after he lost the November election for governor to incumbent George Pataki.
A state senator representing a Manhattan district from 1975 through 1980, McCall also served as ambassador to the United Nations and commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.