Cyril Lloyd “Tank” Johnson was a man who grew up in Delray Beach, served in the Army and was a pioneer in college athletics. He helped establish one of the most popular football games in the state, the Florida Classic between Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M.

Mr. Johnson died Sunday at 77 at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach. He had been in ill health.

His family will hold visitation from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at R.J. Gainous Funeral Home in Daytona Beach. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Mary McLeod-Bethune Performing Arts Center, also in Daytona Beach.

After graduating from Delray Beach’s Carver High School in 1952, Mr. Johnson went to Bethune-Cookman College, where he competed in football, basketball, golf and track. His time there was interrupted by his service as a military policeman, but he returned to graduate. He later earned a master’s degree from Indiana University.

He came back to Bethune-Cookman as an assistant football coach and athletic director. He held the latter position from 1972 through ’91.

“Every milestone we achieved and every student-athlete we’ve been able to attract is a direct result of his leadership,” the school said in a statement.

He is celebrated for two major accomplishments during his career. He was instrumental in getting Bethune-Cookman into Division I athletics and worked with former Florida A&M athletic director Hansel Tookes to start the Florida Classic. The schools’ football teams now meet annually in Orlando for a game that drew more than 60,000 fans last year.

“While Florida A&M University and Bethune-Cookman University are arch-rivals on the field of play, in every other aspect, we are sister institutions,” FAMU Athletic Director Derrick Horne said in a statement. “There is no doubt that the passion of Tank has helped not only increase the visibility of athletics, but the two institutions in general.”

Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn, to whom he was married 49 years. Referenced