UF honors Gainesville native and rock icon Tom Petty with posthumous doctorate degree

Gainesville native and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Tom Petty was posthumously honored with a doctorate degree Thursday morning as part of the University of Florida's 2023 commencement ceremonies.

Petty, who died Oct. 2, 2017 at the age of 66, was awarded an honorary "Doctor of Music" degree after receiving unanimous approval from the UF Faculty Senate and the board of trustees.

UF Provost Joe Glover told the crowd that other than an earned doctorate, the honorary degree is the greatest recognition the university can give an individual.

After a short video on Petty, UF President Ben Sasse conferred the degree.

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"The University of Florida is privileged to recognize Tom Petty for his achievements as a rock star, a beacon of creative freedom and an advocate for his fellow artists for those most in need, and for our Gators," Sasse said.

The Petty family also donated $100,000 to the UF School of Music to establish the Tom Petty Endowment for Guitars and Innovation.

Before continuing with the ceremony, Sasse offered a personnel anecdote related to Petty.

"I don’t know about ya’ll, but I feel like I need to go work out," he said with a smile. "I still remember specific wrestling practices in the 1980s that I only got through because of the soundtrack that came from Tom Petty."

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: University of Florida honors Tom Petty with posthumous degree