093_SR0229

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 1                          SENATE RESOLUTION

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

 6        WHEREAS,  Mr.  Myers was born in Akron, Ohio and earned a
 7    bachelor's  degree  in  1964   from   Carleton   College   in
 8    Northfield,  Minnesota;  he  went on to Princeton University,
 9    where he was awarded the master's of arts (1967)  and  doctor
10    of  philosophy  (1972)  degrees  in  politics  and  political
11    philosophy;  he  launched  his  academic career in 1968 as an
12    instructor in government at  Connecticut  College,  where  he
13    achieved  the  rank of full professor and department chair of
14    government; in 1984, he was named provost and dean of faculty
15    at Hobart and William Smith Colleges  in  Geneva,  New  York,
16    where  he  served  for  five  years  before becoming Illinois
17    Wesleyan's 17th president in 1989; and

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

25        WHEREAS,   In   addition   to   the  impressive  physical
26    improvements to the University, Mr. Myers led key initiatives
27    that changed Illinois Wesleyan in other important  ways;  for
28    example, the University faculty established an annual student
29    research conference; created semester-long programs in London
30    and  Madrid;  added  major  or  minor  programs  in  American
31    Studies,   Anthropology,   Biochemistry,  Cognitive  Science,
32    Women's  Studies,  Environmental  Studies,  Greek  and  Roman
 
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 1    Studies,  International  Business,  Russian,   and   Japanese
 2    Studies;  and  altered  the  calendar  to develop May Term, a
 3    month-long  semester  during  which  innovative  courses  and
 4    off-campus study are emphasized; and

 5        WHEREAS, During his tenure, the University was granted  a
 6    Phi  Beta Kappa chapter, and developed exchange programs with
 7    Pembroke College of Oxford University  and  with  Obirin  and
 8    Keio universities in Tokyo; and

 9        WHEREAS,  Mr.  Myers  combined learning and discovery; he
10    emphasized the importance of a faculty of excellent  teachers
11    with enthusiasm for research; he was a consummate scholar and
12    a  teacher  whose  varied personal interests included playing
13    the piano and  harpsichord,  discussing  music  history,  and
14    collecting  books  and meteorites; his particular fascination
15    with the 18th century led  to  his  expertise  in  furniture,
16    musical  instruments, publishing, and higher education during
17    the American colonial period; he was also well versed in  the
18    history and culture of Revolutionary France; and

19        WHEREAS,  Mr.  Myers was the author or co-author of eight
20    books,  including  "The  Insignia  of  the  Society  of   the
21    Cincinnati"  (1998)  and  "A  Documentary History of American
22    Interiors from the Colonial Era to 1915" (1980); and

23        WHEREAS, Mr. Myers passing will be deeply felt  by  many,
24    especially  his  wife, Ellen; and his two sons, Minor III and
25    Joffre; therefore, be it

26        RESOLVED, BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL
27    ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of
28    Minor  Myers,  Jr.  along with all who knew and loved him and
29    extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends; and
30    be it further

31        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
 
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 1    presented  to the family of Minor Myers, Jr. as an expression
 2    of our deepest sympathy.