Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1982 [PAGE 326]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1981]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

315

Bequest from the Estate of Harry H. Ferguson It is a pleasure occasionally to be able to report good news. The University has been informed that we are the beneficiary of a bequest of slightly more than $2'/2 million of unrestricted funds from the estate of Mr. Harry H. Feiguson. I am told Mr. Ferguson belonged to one of the pioneer families of Alton, Illinois, his father coming to Alton about 1860. Mr. Ferguson attended the Alton public schools and worked in railroad offices, becoming acting manager for the small Bluffs Line Railroad at Alton. In 1894, he and others organized the Illinois Terminal Railroad. Later, Mr. Ferguson established a pure bred Jersey cattle farm near Grafton and we are told he frequently sought advice from the University. As I read the record, the Board of Trustees was first informed of our inclusion in the will of Mr. Ferguson some forty years ago. Since that time, the estate has been in trust, serving the purposes as directed in the will. These have now been satisfied, and the principle will be turned over to the University. Needless to say, we are grateful, given the tremendous need for more flexibility to respond to the academic needs of the University. The bequest also will contribute to the objectives set for the "Campaign for Illinois." I am delighted to be able to report it to you. Harlan D. Bareither Harlan D. Bareither, senior associate vice president for administration, will retire next month, I suppose marking the end of an era. Members of this Board of Trustees will miss his crisp comments to complicated questions, as will his colleagues. Harlan's association with the University began when he arrived at the University as a freshman in 1939, coming all the way from Mattoon! Except for a brief time in the army and a stint at John Deere and Company, he has been at Illinois ever since as student, faculty member, and administrator. Since 1958, when he was annointed as our official "spaceman," he has been a national leader in developing analytical approaches to assess the use of space. These have time and again been adopted by other institutions throughout the country. I know that I speak for all of us when I thank you, Harlan, for those key years during which you dedicated your energies and your considerable talents to this University. We are in your debt, we wish you well, and we expect to continue to receive your good counsel as time goes by.

(The board responded to these comments of tribute to Mr. Bareither with applause.)

OLD A N D N E W BUSINESS Consideration of Proposed A m e n d m e n t to the University Statutes Regarding the Selection of the President of the University

Mr. Stone recognized Trustee Howard who presented and moved adoption of the following report:

Selection of the President of the University (2) The president of the University has transmitted to the board the following amendment to the University of Illinois Statutes, an amendment initiated by the senates: A R T I C L E I. U N I V E R S I T Y A D M I N I S T R A T I O N Sec. 2. T h e President of the University T h e President is the chief officer of the University and a member of the faculty of each college, school, institute, division, and academic unit therein. The President shall be elected by the Board of Trustees and [his