093_HR0447
LRB093 12623 HSS 17996 r
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of
3 the State of Illinois were deeply saddened to learn of the
4 death of Minor Myers Jr., president of Illinois Wesleyan
5 University, on Tuesday, July 22, 2003; and
6 WHEREAS, Minor Myers Jr. was born on August 13, 1942 in
7 Akron, Ohio; he earned a bachelor's degree from Carleton
8 College in Northfield, Minnesota in 1964; he earned a master
9 of arts degree in 1967 and a doctor of philosophy degree in
10 1972, both from Princeton University; and
11 WHEREAS, Dr. Myers began his career in 1968 as an
12 instructor in government at Connecticut College; in 1984, he
13 was named provost and dean of faculty at Hobart and William
14 Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York, where he served for 5
15 years before moving to Illinois Wesleyan; and
16 WHEREAS, Dr. Myers became Illinois Wesleyan University's
17 17th president in July of 1989; he was known by all as a
18 renaissance man who was full of life and curiosity; he led
19 Illinois Wesleyan from being a small regional college to one
20 of the top liberal arts schools in the country; and
21 WHEREAS, During his 14 year tenure as president, the
22 University increased its student enrollment, selectivity, and
23 academic profile; raised $137 million in a capital campaign;
24 and completed $115 million of renovation and construction,
25 including The Ames Library, the Center for Natural Science,
26 the Hansen Student Center, and the Shirk Center for Athletics
27 and Recreation; and
28 WHEREAS, In addition to physical improvements to the
29 University, President Myers led key initiatives that changed
30 Illinois Wesleyan in other important ways; under his
31 leadership, the faculty established an annual student
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1 research conference; created semester-long programs in London
2 and Madrid; added major or minor programs in American
3 Studies, Anthropology, Biochemistry, Cognitive Science,
4 Women's Studies, Environmental Studies, Greek and Roman
5 Studies, International Business, Russian, and Japanese
6 Studies; and altered the calendar to develop May Term, a
7 month-long semester during which innovative courses and
8 off-campus study are emphasized; and
9 WHEREAS, President Myers was a consummate scholar and a
10 teacher whose varied personal interests included playing the
11 piano and harpsichord, discussing music history, and
12 collecting books and meteorites; he was the author or
13 co-author of 8 books as well as numerous articles and papers,
14 and he was the playwright of "The College Inn Revisited"
15 which focused on the 1920's jazz movement in Chicago and the
16 role that city played as a launching ground for Broadway
17 theatre in New York; and
18 WHEREAS, President Myers served on the boards of
19 directors of the Foundation for Independent Higher Education,
20 the Associated Colleges of Illinois, the Institute for the
21 International Education of Students, and the Lyman Allyn
22 Museum at Connecticut College; he was secretary general of
23 the Society of the Cincinnati from 1986 to 1988; and
24 WHEREAS, The passing of President Minor Myers Jr. has
25 been deeply felt by his colleagues, community, friends, and
26 especially his wife, Ellen, and his sons, Minor III and
27 Joffre; therefore, be it
28 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
29 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,
30 together with his family, friends, colleagues, and community,
31 we mourn the passing of Minor Myers Jr., whose death is a
32 grievous loss to his family and the State of Illinois; and be
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1 it further
2 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3 presented to the family of President Minor Myers Jr. as an
4 expression of our profound respect for a citizen who will be
5 sadly missed by family and countless friends and colleagues.