Repository: UIHistories Project: Dedication - Beckman Institute [PAGE 6]

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James R. Thompson Governor State of Illinois

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n February of 1985 when I first discussed this project with Dr. Beckman in California we were having lunch . M, at a Republican affair that was near and dear to his heart and I casually turned to him and said, uDr. Beckman, Dr. Ikenbeny is counting very much on your help and support for the Beckman Institute." And he said, "Well, I don't know about that. . ."—and alarm bells went off in my head! I turned to my assistant and said, "Cancel this afternoon's golf game!" I then asked Dr. Beckman if we could talk further after lunch, and he said, "Well, if you'll come out to the plant, OK." I did so, and for the next several hours Dr. Beckman and I talked across the board about the appropriate role for private philanthropy in a public university. And Dr. Beckman told me in no uncertain terms that he thought that the support of public higher education was primarily, if not exclusively, the responsibility of the taxpayers of the state as well as its governor and legislature. He went on to say that there was indeed a role for philanthropy at public institutions, principally from its alumni and corporations and others. But, he added, there had to be some demonstration that the state itself, and the people of the state, thought enough of their university to be willing to sacrifice other projects in order to achieve educational excellence. I said, "Dr. Beckman, my belief is that 1985 will be known as 'The Year of Education' in Illinois, and by the time the Legislature and I are through with this spring's session you'll have no doubt about our commitment both to elementary and secondary education, to reform in higher education, and to its closer collaboration with economic development and research." Dr. Beckman simply said, "Well, Jim, I'll just wait and see what you deliver." And we delivered. The $10 million contribution from the State of Illinois to match Dr. Beckman's extraordinarily generous $40 million contribution was payment