Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1942 [PAGE 791]

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788

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[February 14

After consulting with members of the department of professorial rank and with the Dean of the College, I concur in the above recommendations. O n motion of M r . Jensen, these changes were approved as recommended.

SABOTAGE PROTECTION

(25) The Board, at its last meeting, made an appropriation to the Physical Plant Department for additional watchmen and other safeguards against sabotage to University plant facilities. The Director of the Physical Plant Department advises that this additional protection was placed in effect on February 2, 1942. This report was received for record.

TRIBUTE TO FRANCIS GRANT BLAIR

Mr. K a r r a k e r presented the following: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois has learned with deep regret of the death of Francis Grant Blair, a former member of this Board, who passed away on January 26, 1942, aged 78 years. Mr. Blair was Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Illinois from 1907 to 1935, a n d during that time was by virtue of his office a member of this Board, a length of service surpassed by only two Trustees in the history of the University. He frequently attended the meetings of the Board and took part in its deliberations. Superintendent Blair served on many state and national boards and commissions. He was President of the National Education Association in 1926, and of the National Council of State Superintendents and Commissioners of Education in 1925. Indeed few men had greater opportunities for broad service in the field of public education. In recording this tribute to the memory of a former colleague, the Board directs its Secretary to send a copy of this resolution of appreciation to the family of Superintendent Blair as a token of the Board's deep sympathy with them in their bereavement. O n motion of M r . K a r r a k e r , this resolution was adopted, by unanimous rising vote.

WAGES OF EMPLOYEES IN PHYSICAL PLANT DEPARTMENT

M r . A d a m s reported that the Committee on Buildings and Grounds had met at the University on F e b r u a r y 14 and had heard delegations from certain classes of employees in the Physical Plant Department, with representatives of their labor organizations, and that the Committee recommended that hourly rates be established in certain crafts as follows, subject to the usual adjustments in the case of persons employed on full-time basis: Hourly Rate Heat, light, and power employees $ .85 to .99 Machinists 97 Painters 1.25 Brickmasons and Plasterers I.62J4 O n motion of Mr. A d a m s , these rates were established, effective F e b r u a r y 1, 1942, and $6,000 was appropriated to take care of the additional expense until the end of the present fiscal year, by the following vote: Aye, President Cleary, M r . A d a m s , Mr. Davis, M r . Fornof, M r s . Grigsby, M r . Jensen, M r . K a r r a k e r , M r . Livingston; no, n o n e ; absent, M r . Green, D r . Meyer, M r . Wieland.