Tom Petty Dead: Late Heartbreakers Leader Receives Honor From University of Florida Years After His Death

Tom Petty posthumously received recognition years after his death.

The lead singer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers had a flourishing empire, but his career was cut short by his sudden death at the age of 66.

Despite not being around anymore to release new music or make massive contributions, the musician scored another honor from the University of Florida.

Tom Petty Receives an Honorary Degree

The University of Florida announced that it would posthumously honor Petty and recognize his contributions through an honorary Doctor of Music degree, per Rolling Stone.

University of Florida School of Music director Kevin Orr said, "We in the UF School of Music and College of the Arts are privileged to honor Tom Petty with an honorary doctorate degree in Music, celebrating not only his extraordinary achievements as an artist, but the ways in which his music has and continues to unite us as a community."

He added that the honorary degree will recognize Petty's unmatched defenses for the rights of performing artists while showing commitment to music-related passions and leaving a lasting impact on society.

The university also established a partnership with Petty's estate to expand the Tom Petty Endowment for Guitars & Innovation. It helps the Music's Guitar and new Music Business & Entrepreneurship programs at the University of Florida.

The late musician will officially have the diploma, which will be accepted by his brother Bruce, at the school's upcoming spring commencement Thursday.

In a statement, Bruce expressed its gratitude as his late brother would be linked to the university that way years after his death. He called the feat Petty's life-long dream, saying the late singer would be so happy about it.

Petty's estate donated $100,000 on top of his family's ongoing fundraising for the endowment. His loved ones are currently selling reprints of Shepard Fairey's An American Treasure poster.

Remembering Tom Petty: How Did He Die?

On Oc. 2, 2017, Petty died at the UCLA Medical Center after he was rushed into the medical facility after he suffered a cardiac arrest while he was at his Malibu home.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' longtime manager Tony Dimitriades confirmed his passing in a statement, saying that Petty was surrounded by his family, bandmates, and friends as the medical staff tried to revive him.

According to EW, he was put on life support but was removed hours later after the doctors found no brain activity after his cardiac arrest.

Meanwhile, months after his death, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled that he died of "multisystem organ failure due to resuscitated cardiopulmonary arrest due to mixed drug toxicity." He also suffered emphysema and coronary artery atherosclerosis.