Repository: UIHistories Project: Dedication - Henry Admin Renaming [PAGE 6]

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In countless ways, he helped others understand that the University of Illinois, at its heart, is people, ideas and the quest for discovery. David Henry's success is also explained by the fact that he was and remains a hard worker and keen observer* During his years as president of the University, the presidency was not just a full-time occupation, it was a life's work. The progress of the University reflected that devotion. Dr. Henry was and remains a keen observer, as well. When others saw in fragments, he was able to see the world in perspective and to assess what was happening not only in universities, but in society, too. The world of tomorrow is now with us in all its complexity; the benefit of time tells us Dr. Henry's vision served us ably. Midway through his tenure at Illinois, David Henry wrote to the University community: "It is readily apparent that the future is now and that there is no time to lose." If he were president of the University of Illinois today, I suspect he would counsel us in precisely the same terms: The future is now; get moving. The 16 years of the Henry presidency at the University of Iflinnis were a fine blend of interpreting the University's past while also building toward the University's future. David Henry defined a new harmony between the University of Illinois and the society it serves* Nearly 16 years have passed since his retirement from the presidency, and yet, in the main, the course he set remains the course we travel today. David Henry's vision for the future of the University of Illinois was to provide programs of the highest quality in response to the needs of society and the times in which we live. Universities should be characterized) he said.