093_HR0447

                                     LRB093 12623 HSS 17996 r

 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The members of the House of  Representatives  of
 3    the  State  of  Illinois were deeply saddened to learn of the
 4    death of Minor Myers  Jr.,  president  of  Illinois  Wesleyan
 5    University, on Tuesday, July 22, 2003; and

 6        WHEREAS,  Minor  Myers Jr. was born on August 13, 1942 in
 7    Akron, Ohio; he earned  a  bachelor's  degree  from  Carleton
 8    College  in Northfield, Minnesota in 1964; he earned a master
 9    of arts degree in 1967 and a doctor of philosophy  degree  in
10    1972, both from Princeton University; and

11        WHEREAS,  Dr.  Myers  began  his  career  in  1968  as an
12    instructor in government at Connecticut College; in 1984,  he
13    was  named  provost and dean of faculty at Hobart and William
14    Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York, where  he  served  for  5
15    years before moving to Illinois Wesleyan; and

16        WHEREAS,  Dr. Myers became Illinois Wesleyan University's
17    17th president in July of 1989; he was  known  by  all  as  a
18    renaissance  man  who  was full of life and curiosity; he led
19    Illinois Wesleyan from being a small regional college to  one
20    of the top liberal arts schools in the country; and

21        WHEREAS,  During  his  14  year  tenure as president, the
22    University increased its student enrollment, selectivity, and
23    academic profile; raised $137 million in a capital  campaign;
24    and  completed  $115  million of renovation and construction,
25    including The Ames Library, the Center for  Natural  Science,
26    the Hansen Student Center, and the Shirk Center for Athletics
27    and Recreation; and

28        WHEREAS,  In  addition  to  physical  improvements to the
29    University, President Myers led key initiatives that  changed
30    Illinois   Wesleyan   in  other  important  ways;  under  his
31    leadership,  the  faculty  established  an   annual   student
 
                            -2-      LRB093 12623 HSS 17996 r
 1    research conference; created semester-long programs in London
 2    and  Madrid;  added  major  or  minor  programs  in  American
 3    Studies,   Anthropology,   Biochemistry,  Cognitive  Science,
 4    Women's  Studies,  Environmental  Studies,  Greek  and  Roman
 5    Studies,  International  Business,  Russian,   and   Japanese
 6    Studies;  and  altered  the  calendar  to develop May Term, a
 7    month-long  semester  during  which  innovative  courses  and
 8    off-campus study are emphasized; and

 9        WHEREAS, President Myers was a consummate scholar  and  a
10    teacher  whose varied personal interests included playing the
11    piano  and  harpsichord,  discussing   music   history,   and
12    collecting  books  and  meteorites;  he  was  the  author  or
13    co-author of 8 books as well as numerous articles and papers,
14    and  he  was  the  playwright  of "The College Inn Revisited"
15    which focused on the 1920's jazz movement in Chicago and  the
16    role  that  city  played  as  a launching ground for Broadway
17    theatre in New York; and

18        WHEREAS,  President  Myers  served  on  the   boards   of
19    directors of the Foundation for Independent Higher Education,
20    the  Associated  Colleges  of Illinois, the Institute for the
21    International Education of  Students,  and  the  Lyman  Allyn
22    Museum  at  Connecticut  College; he was secretary general of
23    the Society of the Cincinnati from 1986 to 1988; and

24        WHEREAS, The passing of President  Minor  Myers  Jr.  has
25    been  deeply  felt by his colleagues, community, friends, and
26    especially his wife, Ellen,  and  his  sons,  Minor  III  and
27    Joffre; therefore, be it

28        RESOLVED,   BY   THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE
29    NINETY-THIRD GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,
30    together with his family, friends, colleagues, and community,
31    we  mourn  the  passing  of Minor Myers Jr., whose death is a
32    grievous loss to his family and the State of Illinois; and be
 
                            -3-      LRB093 12623 HSS 17996 r
 1    it further

 2        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
 3    presented  to  the  family of President Minor Myers Jr. as an
 4    expression of our profound respect for a citizen who will  be
 5    sadly missed by family and countless friends and colleagues.