Former LSU Chancellor Jim Wharton dies at 83 4 hours 4 minutes 9 seconds ago Saturday, May 22 2021 May 22, 2021 May 22, 2021 7:04 PM May 22, 2021 in News Source: WBRZ Photo: The Advocate BATON ROUGE - Jim Wharton, LSU's chancellor from 1981-1988, died Saturday at the age of 83. Wharton was known for his groundbreaking changes to university athletics and administration, including his role in creating LSU's first admissions standards. He also helped create an early version of the LSU Alumni Association and the Tiger Athletic Foundation. Wharton's other accomplishments included helping the university reach Research I status for the first time and overseeing the effort to bring the LIGO facility to LSU and Louisiana, according to a press release from LSU.