Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946 [PAGE 974]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1946]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

967

President Willard wrote to me on December 1st praising the work of Colonel Hannah, but pointing out also that Colonel Charles R. Frederick of the Army Air Forces had been mentioned for the position and adding: "In fact, I told the Board of Trustees last August, when Professor Clevenger was appointed Acting Director, that I would consider recommending Colonel Frederick if he were available." President Willard said further with respect to Colonel Frederick: "I presume his release can be assured if his services are needed at the University of Illinois." President Willard indicated that Colonel Hannah was his first choice and suggested a conference with him in Urbana, adding "Unfortunately a conference with Frederick is not possible at this time." I obtained therefore the impression that there was still some room for choice between the two men and that the matter of the directorship had not been finally decided. At President Willard's home in Urbana I had a pleasant conversation with Colonel Hannah and received a favorable impression. I was moved, as we all should be, by President Willard's account of Colonel Hannah's splendid military career, and I felt that all of us should make sure that Colonel Hannah would be returned to the position of his greatest interest and professional potentiality. I was impressed with his record as an Associate Professor in Agricultural Economics and as Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station and Assistant to the Dean of the College of Agriculture. Here was a promising career to which a distinguished military leader might return after an absence of nearly four years. It is certainly true that I underestimated the strength of Colonel Hannah's desire to turn from this to a purely administrative position in a new Division. Rightly or wrongly — wrongly, as it turns out — I had assumed that Colonel Hannah was merely willing to take over the new post as a service to the University. On the other hand, it occurred to me that the work that Colonel Frederick had been doing as Director of Housing was closely related to many of the veterans' problems and that his assignment to the directorship of the Division of Special Services for War Veterans would not interrupt his previous career at the University. In a sense it would give him further opportunities of a similar nature. I mention all this merely to indicate my state of mind as I listened to the brief discussion of the subject at the meeting on December n t h . It did not occur to me that there was a division of will or intention as between the Board and the President, for clearly any nomination would come from the President of the University. I did not hear any expression of dissent from the Board's action on that occasion, but as a guest I was not of course familiar with the usual way of bringing up and taking action upon such matters. In any case, this is water over the dam. Colonel Hannah wants the position and President Willard has nominated him for it. I hope very much that the Board will agree that a mistake in procedure has been made, and I should be happy to see Colonel Hannah's nomination confirmed. You may use this letter in any way that will be helpful to you. With personal greetings and best wishes, I am Sincerely yours,

GEORGE D. STODDARD

CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS

Professor W. E. Britton, Legal Counsel, on request of President Livingston for his opinion on the power of the President to make appointments subject to the confirmation of the Board, read parts of Section 2 of the University Statutes and Article VI, Section 5, of the By-Laws of the Board, and stated that under these rules made by the Board appointments made by the President of the University were subject to confirmation by the Board, and that in case of such an appointment the Board could either confirm or reject.