Penn State President Emeritus Graham Spanier and the university Board of Trustees, including sitting President Rodney Erickson, issued statements Sunday morning upon the news of Joe Paterno's death.

The full, unedited text of their statements is posted here. So is the complete text of a statement released by the Paterno family.

From Graham Spanier:

• It was my privilege and honor to work with Joe Paterno for more than 16 years. He was a distinguished American, a legendary coach, and Penn State's greatest ambassador. He provided unprecedented leadership for academic advancement, philanthropy, and athletic excellence and integrity for more than 60 years. I join Penn Staters and others in mourning his passing.

From the Board of Trustees, including Rodney Erickson:

• We grieve for the loss of Joe Paterno, a great man who made us a greater university. His dedication to ensuring his players were successful both on the field and in life is legendary and his commitment to education is unmatched in college football. His life, work and generosity will be remembered always. The University plans to honor him for his many contributions and to remember his remarkable life and legacy. We are all deeply saddened.

From the Paterno family:

• It is with great sadness that we announce that Joe Paterno passed away earlier today. His loss leaves a void in our lives that will never be filled.

He died as he lived. He fought hard until the end, stayed positive, thought only of others and constantly reminded everyone of how blessed his life had been. His ambitions were far reaching, but he never believed he had to leave this Happy Valley to achieve them. He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players and his community.

He has been many things in his life - a soldier, scholar, mentor, coach, friend and father. To my mother he was and is her soul mate, and the last several weeks have shown the strength of their love. To his children and grandchildren he is a shining example of how to live a good, decent and honest life, a standard to which we aspire.

When he decided to forego a career in law and make coaching his vocation, his father Angelo had but one command: make an impact.

As the last 61 years have shown, Joe made an incredible impact. That impact has been felt and appreciated by our family in the form of thousands of letters and well wishes along with countless acts of kindness from people whose lives he touched. It is evident also in the thousands of successful student athletes who have gone on to multiply that impact as they spread out across the country.

And so he leaves us with a peaceful mind, comforted by his "living legacy" of five kids, 17 grandchildren, and hundreds of young men whose lives he changed in more ways than can begin to be counted.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that donations be made to the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania or the Penn State-THON (The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon).

Related content

• Penn State Coach Joe Paterno Dies (1926-2012) (Jan. 22, 2012)

• PHOTOS: Mourners Gather at Paterno Statue (Jan. 22, 2012)