Marshall McAllister Criser Jr. (1928- ) was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Criser earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and his law degree at the University of Florida, where he was a leader in student politics. After serving in the U.S. Army overseas, Criser joined the law firm of Gunster Yoakley in Palm Beach, where he became a partner in 1960.
Criser was on the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar 1960-69, and was its president 1968-69. Through appointments by governors Farris Bryant and Reubin Askew, Criser served from 1965-81 on the Board of Regents, then the governing body for all public universities in Florida. Criser was the board’s chair 1974-77. Also during the 1970s, Criser represented the Palm Beach County School Board.
In 1984 Criser left private practice to accept the presidency of the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, the second UF alumnus to become its president.He led UF to become one of only 56 schools with membership in the Association of American Universities. Criser was considered a very visible spokesman for the university and for higher education in Florida. The Marshall M. Criser Student Services Center (“Criser Hall”) at the University of Florida was named in his honor, as well as the Chair in Electronic Communications and Administrative Law.
After leaving the presidency in 1988, Criser continued to use his fundraising skills to benefit UF’s first comprehensive capital campaign. In retirement, Criser also served as the first chairman of the University of Florida Board of Trustees from 2001 until Governor Jeb Bush asked him to chair the Scripps Florida Funding Corporation Board 2003-06.