Penn State trustee John Surma decides to leave the board

John P. Surma, the Penn State trustee who told Joe Paterno that he was fired, has decided that he is not seeking re-election to the university's governing board.

John Surma, long a powerful figure on Penn State's Board of Trustees, is not seeking re-election to the board. His term expires later this year.JOE HERMITT, The Patriot-News

On Thursday, Penn State announced Surma's decision to step down from the board when his term ends in June.

In

, the university said that Surma informed the board informally that he wanted to step down because of new business commitments. He recently re-affirmed that decision as the filing deadline for board elections approaches, the university said.

Surma announced

in November 2011 just days after the indictment of

, the former Penn State defensive football coach. At that same meeting, the board announced the decision to oust then-Penn State President Graham Spanier.

The chairman and CEO of U.S. Steel, Surma had long been a powerful figure on Penn State's board of trustees. He was the board's face when Penn State let go of its iconic football coach and its longtime president.

"We appreciate very much the leadership John Surma provided during his tenure on the Board," Penn State President Rodney Erickson said in the university's statement. "His expertise and talents were particularly helpful as the inaugural chair of the Board's Subcommittee on Finance and exhibited throughout other key leadership positions."

“Our community owes a significant debt of gratitude to John Surma and his family,” Keith Masser, Board of Trustees chairman, said. “His years of service to this University and our students is a source of inspiration and pride.”

Some had expected Surma to become chairman of Penn State's board of trustees last year, but some alumni and critics also demanded new leadership on the board. In January 2012, the board elected Karen Peetz as chairwoman, and Masser was elected as vice chairman. Last month, Masser succeeded Peetz to become the chairman of Penn State's board.

Last summer, Sandusky was convicted of child sex abuse crimes against 10 boys and is serving a prison sentence of 30 to 60 years. Spanier and two other Penn State administrators - Tim Curley and Gary Schultz - have been charged with perjury in the fallout of the Sandusky scandal. They all maintain their innocence.

Earlier Thursday,

over the NCAA sanctions on Penn State.

The NCAA had imposed a $60 million fine and a four-year ban on postseason play. The governing body of college sports also stripped more than 100 wins from the program, a move that ensured Paterno would no longer be the all-time leader in wins in major college football.

Paterno died of lung cancer at the age of 85 in January 2012.

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