Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946 [PAGE 497]

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494

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[May 26

Harold N. Hillebrand, Robert R. Hudelson. On the illness of Professor Hillebrand in November, James G. V a n Derpool was selected to take his place. Alumni Association: George E. Woods, 1913, Chairman, Robert F . Carr, 1893, Janet Kinley Gregg, 1924, Dr. W . L. Crawford, M.D., 1920, Captain George Catlett, 1939. General Advisory Committee: Major Lenox R. Lohr, Chairman, Otto G. Beich, Chester Collins, Ronald M. Kimball, William D . Knight. The Chairman of the Board Committee addressed letters to the presidents of leading American universities and to other men prominent in education, business, and public life, and asked for suggestions of names of desirable men. T h e Chairman of the Alumni Committee requested prominent alumni, including the presidents of Illini Clubs, to make suggestions. T h e committee from the General Advisory Committee had several meetings, outlined the qualifications necessary and desirable for success in the presidency, and suggested policies to be followed and names. T h e Faculty Committee held weekly meetings, appointed a subcommittee of younger members of the staff and one for the Chicago Colleges, conducted polls to ascertain the wishes of the faculty and staff, and conducted a wide correspondence with teachers at other institutions. These committees have been altogether helpful; T h e Board Committee has held twelve meetings with the chairmen or some member of the advisory committees and other members of the Board in attendance. O n February 24, 1945, the Committee made a report of progress to the Board to the effect that more than one hundred candidates had been considered, and inquiries had been made by letter and in person, but that no member of any committee had interviewed any nominee. However, two persons under consideration had unqualified approval and seemed desirable, and should be interviewed by a special committee including President Livingston, Mr. Davis, and Mr. Jensen. At the time arranged for these interviews, President Livingston was unable to make the trip, but Mr. Davis and Mr. Jensen went east and visited these men, and returned with a favorable report and a recommendation that the President of the University be requested to invite Dr. George D. Stoddard, Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York, and M r s . Stoddard, to visit the University as the official guests of the University. Dr. and M r s . Stoddard accepted this invitation. They visited the Chicago campus on Thursday of this week, meeting four members of the Board of Trustees, the three deans of the Chicago colleges, the chairmen of the advisory committees, two members of the Alumni committees, the President of the Board of Directors of the Athletic Association, the President-elect of the Alumni Association, the Secretary of the Board, and prominent members of the teaching staff. All were most favorably impressed. Yesterday, Dr. Stoddard interviewed (in small groups) the deans and directors and the principal administrative officers of the University, the athletic coaches, and representatives of the press. H e had luncheon with the Faculty Committee. T h e impression here was also good, and confirmed the opinion that had been growing in the minds of the Committee, after thorough study of the qualifications of so many prominent men, that we have in Dr. Stoddard a most distinguished, capable, and desirable man to be President of the University of Illinois. W e therefore recommend unanimously that D r . George Dinsmore Stoddard be elected President of the University of Illinois, to serve at the pleasure of the Board, at a salary of $20,000 a year, effective July 1, 1946, to take office on retirement of Dr. Willard on September 1, 1946, with the use of the President's house and automobile, according to the laws of the State, the By-Laws of the Board, and the Statutes of the University.

On motion of Mr. Davis, this report was adopted, and Dr. Stoddard was unanimously elected President of the University under the conditions recommended. Dr. Stoddard having been summoned, returned to the meeting. President Livingston notified him of his election, and. Dr. Stoddard accepted the office and thanked the Board.