KALAMAZOO, MI -- Elson S. Floyd, who was president of Western Michigan University from 1998-2003, died Saturday.

Elson Floyd

He was 59.

Floyd recently took a leave of absence as president of Washington State University as he battled colon cancer, the Spokesman-Review of Spokane reported.

"These have been incredibly challenging times for me, and it is with great regret I ask to take a leave of absence to address this personal battle with cancer," Floyd is quoted as saying in a statement by the WSU board.

Floyd took office as WMU president in August 1998 and served until January 2003. He left WMU to serve as president of the University of Missouri then became president of Washington State in May 2007.

WMU was preparing a statement Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton said this about Floyd:

"Elson Floyd was a dear friend whose great work at Western Michigan University propelled him into the ranks of top college presidents in the United States, following in the footsteps of Diether Haenicke and blazing the trail for John Dunn," Upton said in a news release.

"I learned lifelong leadership lessons from Elson. He helped the community in the areas of economic development and was wonderful at Washington State University ... He was a true friend."

Washington State's website contains a tribute to Floyd: See it here.