Ex-Lebanon hostage Thomas Sutherland dies in Colorado

(AP) — Thomas Sutherland, who was held captive in Lebanon for more than six years until he was freed and returned home to become professor emeritus at Colorado State University, has died.

Sutherland died in Fort Collins on Friday at the age of 85, according to Colorado State University, where he taught animal science until he left to become dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science at American University in Beirut.

"The entire Colorado State University community joins once again in honoring a true hero - who believed that an understanding of agricultural science could bring relief to people and communities in hunger — and that education could be a force for good and light in our world that would transcend borders and differences among nations," Colorado State University President Tony Frank said in a posting Saturday on CSU's website.