093_SR0229
LRB093 13091 KEF 18340 r
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of
3 Illinois were saddened to learn of the death of Minor Myers
4 Jr., president of Illinois Wesleyan University, on July 22,
5 2003; and
6 WHEREAS, Mr. Myers was born in Akron, Ohio and earned a
7 bachelor's degree in 1964 from Carleton College in
8 Northfield, Minnesota; he went on to Princeton University,
9 where he was awarded the master's of arts (1967) and doctor
10 of philosophy (1972) degrees in politics and political
11 philosophy; he launched his academic career in 1968 as an
12 instructor in government at Connecticut College, where he
13 achieved the rank of full professor and department chair of
14 government; in 1984, he was named provost and dean of faculty
15 at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York,
16 where he served for five years before becoming Illinois
17 Wesleyan's 17th president in 1989; and
18 WHEREAS, During his 14-year tenure, the University
19 increased its student enrollment, selectivity, and academic
20 profile; raised $137 million in a capital campaign; and
21 completed $115 million of renovation and construction,
22 including The Ames Library, the Center for Natural Science,
23 the Hansen Student Center, and the Shirk Center for Athletics
24 and Recreation; and
25 WHEREAS, In addition to the impressive physical
26 improvements to the University, Mr. Myers led key initiatives
27 that changed Illinois Wesleyan in other important ways; for
28 example, the University faculty established an annual student
29 research conference; created semester-long programs in London
30 and Madrid; added major or minor programs in American
31 Studies, Anthropology, Biochemistry, Cognitive Science,
32 Women's Studies, Environmental Studies, Greek and Roman
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1 Studies, International Business, Russian, and Japanese
2 Studies; and altered the calendar to develop May Term, a
3 month-long semester during which innovative courses and
4 off-campus study are emphasized; and
5 WHEREAS, During his tenure, the University was granted a
6 Phi Beta Kappa chapter, and developed exchange programs with
7 Pembroke College of Oxford University and with Obirin and
8 Keio universities in Tokyo; and
9 WHEREAS, Mr. Myers combined learning and discovery; he
10 emphasized the importance of a faculty of excellent teachers
11 with enthusiasm for research; he was a consummate scholar and
12 a teacher whose varied personal interests included playing
13 the piano and harpsichord, discussing music history, and
14 collecting books and meteorites; his particular fascination
15 with the 18th century led to his expertise in furniture,
16 musical instruments, publishing, and higher education during
17 the American colonial period; he was also well versed in the
18 history and culture of Revolutionary France; and
19 WHEREAS, Mr. Myers was the author or co-author of eight
20 books, including "The Insignia of the Society of the
21 Cincinnati" (1998) and "A Documentary History of American
22 Interiors from the Colonial Era to 1915" (1980); and
23 WHEREAS, Mr. Myers passing will be deeply felt by many,
24 especially his wife, Ellen; and his two sons, Minor III and
25 Joffre; therefore, be it
26 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
27 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of
28 Minor Myers, Jr. along with all who knew and loved him and
29 extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends; and
30 be it further
31 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
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1 presented to the family of Minor Myers, Jr. as an expression
2 of our deepest sympathy.