Jerry Choate, former Fort Hays State University professor and director of Sternberg Museum of Natural History, has died.
Choate, 66, lost an eight-month battle with cancer Wednesday evening.
He and his wife, Fi, were staying at the home of their only son, Judd Choate, in the Denver area.
Choate retired in June from Fort Hays, where he had worked for nearly 40 years, teaching in the department of biological sciences and serving as director of two different museums — Museum of the High Plains and then Sternberg.
Choate had battled cancer since April when it was discovered he had three brain tumors and was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma.
A memorial service in Hays is planned for a later date.
A full story of Choate's career at FHSU will be in The Hays Daily News.