FAYETTE, Mo. (Associated Press) - Joe Al Howell, president emeritus of Central Methodist University, died Wednesday. He was 78.

The university announced Howell's death. No other details were immediately available.

Howell retired in 1995 after serving 18 years as president of the university. In 1998, he lived in the United Arab Emirates and helped found Zayed University.

He was the author of six books and served on several state and national educational organizations.