WSU students hold impromptu memorial service for late president Floyd

PULLMAN, Wash. -- Washington State University students held an impromptu memorial Monday to honor the late WSU President Elson Floyd, who died of complications from colon cancer on Saturday. He was 59.

The university said the impromptu student service was organized by students communicating via social media.

The official university celebration of life for Floyd has been scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 26, after the students return for the fall semester, the university said. It will be held in Beasley Coliseum on the Pullman campus.

Meanwhile, the board of regents said they will soon begin the process of replacing Floyd.

Dan Bernardo has been named the acting president.

WSU spokeswoman Kathy Barnard says the regents in the next few weeks will hold a special meeting to appoint an interim president and likely name a committee to conduct a nationwide search for a new president.