Joel Ferguson, a known developer in Michigan and former board of trustee for Michigan State University, has died at the age of 85.

Joel Ferguson, a longtime Lansing power-broker, real estate developer and high-profile Democrat, has died, according to Michigan State University. He was 85.

Former longtime Michigan State University trustee and businessman Joel Ferguson has died. Governor Gretchen Whitmer, in a statement on his death, said Ferguson was a "Lansing legend."

Ferguson, an MSU alumnus, was elected to the MSU board four times. He founded Lansing-area TV stations WFSL and WLAJ and was a real estate developer.

Longtime Michigan State University trustee and Lansing real estate developer Joel Ferguson has passed away. The 85-year-old died on Saturday morning, Oct. 19, family representative Tina Miller told MLive.