Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1968 [PAGE 876]

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824

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

ELECTION OF A PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

[December 9

The office of President of the Board being vacant, the Secretary of the Board called for nominations of a President, Pro Tempore. Mr. Jones nominated Mr. Hughes. Mr. Hughes was unanimously elected President, Pro Tempore and took the chair.

APPOINTMENT OF KENNEY E. WILLIAMSON TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Mr. Hughes recognized the presence of Mr. Kenney E. Williamson who had been appointed by Governor Otto Kerner on December 8, 1967, to be a member of The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois to fill the vacancy on the Board created by the death of Mr. Wayne A. Johnston. The following members of the Board were present: Mr. Clement, Mr. Grimes, Mr. Hahn, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Jones, Mr. Page, Mr. Pogue, Mr. Swain, Mr. Williamson; Governor Kerner and Dr. Weatherly were absent. Also present were President David D. Henry; Mr. James J. Costello, Legal Counsel; Mr. R. C. Wicklund, Assistant Secretary of the University and Staff Associate in the Board of Trustees Office; Mr. Arthur R. Wildhagen, Assistant Director of Public Information, Urbana; and officers of the Board, Mr. H. O. Farber, Comptroller, and Dr. Earl W. Porter, Secretary.

REMARKS BY MR. HUGHES

I know that I speak for all the members of the Board when I say that we are saddened that we meet here today to select a successor to our late colleague and friend Wayne Johnston as President of this Board. This Board needs no reminder of the central role he played in its activities during his tenure. He brought to it the same dedication, ability, and enthusiasm that characterized his business career. Nor need I remind you of the value of his leadership as President of this Board for the past year. We will, of course, want to prepare a formal resolution honoring him at a later date. Meanwhile, however, the business of the University must go on. It was once written of Wayne Johnston that he gave the impression that "hours not devoted to the Illinois Central or to worthy projects are generally a waste of time." I think he would agree that we must proceed now to organize ourselves to continue the projects we have begun. Other members of the Board endorsed Mr. Hughes comments and joined him in similar expressions of regret and of respect for Mr. Johnston.

ELECTION OF PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD

Mr. Hughes called for nominations for the office of President of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Grimes nominated Mr. Swain; Mr. Hahn seconded the motion. On motion of Mr. Pogue, seconded by Mr. Hahn, the nominations were closed and the Secretary was instructed to cast the unanimous ballot of the Board for the election of Mr. Timothy W. Swain as President, to serve until the next annual meeting of the Board of Trustees in March, 1968, or until his successor shall have been elected and qualified. The ballot was so cast, and Mr. Swain was declared elected as President of the Board.