Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1994 [PAGE 345]

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1995]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

333

you will always be remembered, and I do mean always, by citizens throughout this State, by people in this country, as one of the most outstanding presidents that this University has ever had. You have brought this University to great heights of accomplishment and esteem and I thank you very much for that. And, Judy, I want to thank you, too, on a very personal basis for all the delightful experiences that we've had with you — the wonderful occasions you've planned for our board, your thoughtfulness, and your energy. I think we've just had so many happy moments that you've provided. I just want you to know how much we appreciate that. I think we are very grateful and very fortunate to have had 16 years of the lives of these two wonderful people and I want you to know that I truly appreciate it very much." Then, Mr. Rose, the student trustee from the Urbana-Champaign campus, said: "I was trying to think of a few things to say here at the last meeting for the Ikenberrys and I remember about three months ago I picked up a copy of The DI and noted a front page story — Ikenberry attends class. It turns out he showed up in a history class in t-shirt and jeans and I thought, oh my goodness, these last couple of months he's losing it and before long he'll be at Kam's. He really isn't though and somehow I have this uncanny feeling that as he leaves the U. of I. presidency he's departing much larger than life. He already was larger than life to me. But I'm sure that as he leaves he'll take with him the memories of the students here at Urbana-Champaign and that's really what it's about — the students. I can truly say that we're grateful to both you and Judy for your time and dedication here at the U. of I. Thanks and good luck." Mr. Engelbrecht then asked to speak and said: "I am certainly the rookie of this crowd so I have less experience serving and working on the Board of Trustees with Stan, but we do go back a number of years prior to that and have had some very warm relationships. The only analogy I think of this is that for years and years and years, I recruited young people to come to my company from the U. of I. As a part of that I would sit with each and say: I can't tell you how you will progress at this company. I can't tell you how much money you're going to make. I can't tell you what the future is but I can tell you one very simple straightforward thing: you will really like working here. Maybe that's more important than anything else. And that's the analogy I have for you, Stan. I don't know how good an educator you are but I'm sure you've got this very lengthy list of honors and publications. And I don't know how good a president you are, but everybody says awfully good. And as a national leader, I have no clue, but everybody else says you are very good. The one thing I do know is that you are a wonderful person to work with and maybe that in the final analysis is the most important thing. Good luck, Stan." Dr. Gindorf declined to speak, but asked that the following statement from him be recorded as his remarks to President Ikenberry: "I wish