HR0363LRB099 11542 GRL 32902 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Robert A. Easter on the
4occasion of his retirement as President of the University of
5Illinois system, with main campuses in Urbana-Champaign,
6Chicago, and Springfield and programs that touch nearly every
7corner of the State of Illinois; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Robert Easter's distinguished service as the 19th
9President of the University of Illinois capped a nearly 40-year
10career at the State's flagship university, a global leader in
11education and research, and one of the nation's original
12land-grant universities; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Robert Easter's long association with the
14University of Illinois dates back even further, to 1973, when
15he left his native Texas to begin doctoral studies on the
16Urbana-Champaign campus after earning a bachelor's degree in
17agricultural education and a master's in animal nutrition from
18Texas A & M University, where he earned membership in the Phi
19Kappa Phi Honor Society; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Robert Easter completed his doctorate in animal
21sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in
221976, and was immediately hired to begin his academic and

 

 

HR0363- 2 -LRB099 11542 GRL 32902 r

1research career as an assistant professor in the Department of
2Animal Sciences, conducting research on and teaching about
3livestock feeding; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Robert Easter's teaching excellence earned
5numerous awards, including the Young Animal Scientist Award for
6Outstanding Teacher from the Midwest Section of the American
7Society of Animal Science, along with awards at the
8departmental and college levels at the University of Illinois
9at Urbana-Champaign; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Robert Easter's pioneering research has made him
11an internationally known expert in livestock feeding; he has
12participated in lectures, academic programs, and private
13consulting on swine-related topics across the United States and
14in 30 foreign countries; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Robert Easter's scholarship has advanced science,
16contributing to a book he co-authored on livestock production;
17he also wrote more than 90 peer-reviewed articles, 11 book
18chapters, and numerous papers for conferences and industry
19publications; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Robert Easter's expertise earned an appointment
21by President George W. Bush in 2006 to the Board for
22International Food and Agricultural Development, which advises

 

 

HR0363- 3 -LRB099 11542 GRL 32902 r

1the United States Agency for International Development on
2issues relating to food insecurity in developing nations; he
3also served a term as chair during his service from 2006 to
42011; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Robert Easter's scholarship has earned him
6membership in prestigious professional societies, including
7the American Society of Animal Science and the British Society
8of Animal Science; he was also appointed to serve on the
9Illinois Council for Food and Agricultural Research, the
10Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation, and the
11Governor's Committee on China; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Robert Easter has served the interests of the
13State of Illinois, the nation, and the world through his
14agricultural expertise; his contributions have been recognized
15with the Award in Nonruminant Nutrition Research from the
16American Society of Animal Sciences, the University of Illinois
17at Urbana-Champaign College of Agriculture's prestigious Paul
18A. Funk Award for contributions to Illinois agriculture, the
19Illinois Pork Producers Industry Spotlight and Industry
20Service Awards, and the Illinois Farm Bureau Charles Schumann
21Award, the Farm Bureau's highest honor and given in recognition
22of lifelong support for agriculture in Illinois and across the
23nation; and
 

 

 

HR0363- 4 -LRB099 11542 GRL 32902 r

1    WHEREAS, Robert Easter shared his talents in leadership at
2the University of Illinois, serving as head of the Department
3of Animal Sciences from 1996 to 2001; he was also dean of the
4nationally-ranked College of Agricultural, Consumer, and
5Environmental Sciences from 2002 to 2009; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Robert Easter's planned retirement in 2009 marked
7the beginning of a new chapter in his career that reflects the
8commitment and loyalty that stand as the hallmark of his
9service to the University of Illinois and the people of the
10State; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Robert Easter delayed his retirement to answer the
12call when the University of Illinois needed his wisdom and
13steady hand during difficult times, serving as interim provost
14and chancellor of the Urbana-Champaign campus from 2009 to
152011; he later stepped out of retirement to serve as the 19th
16President of the University from July of 2012 to May of 2015;
17and
 
18    WHEREAS, Robert Easter is the only person in the 148 years
19since the founding of the University of Illinois to serve in
20each of those critical leadership roles; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Under Robert Easter's leadership as President,
22the University of Illinois has continued its rise as one of the

 

 

HR0363- 5 -LRB099 11542 GRL 32902 r

1world's premier universities, growing to a record 78,000
2students across its 3 campuses, awarding more than 20,000
3degrees annually, and increasing research funding to nearly $1
4billion; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Robert Easter has sought to expand the world-class
6facilities at the University of Illinois, playing a key role in
7projects that include the launch of Blue Waters, the fastest
8supercomputer on any college campus in the world; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Robert Easter has been a steadfast advocate for
10the University of Illinois' land-grant mission of student
11access and affordability, holding tuition increases to their
12lowest levels in 2 decades during his term as President,
13including a tuition freeze for incoming, in-state freshmen for
14the 2015-2016 academic year; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Robert Easter has been a champion for serving the
16needs of not only the students but the people of Illinois,
17seeking to drive progress and economic growth through the
18University's graduates and the innovation spawned by its
19research discoveries; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Robert Easter served his country as an officer in
21the United States Army Reserve for 2 decades, retiring at the
22rank of Major; and
 

 

 

HR0363- 6 -LRB099 11542 GRL 32902 r

1    WHEREAS, During his long, decorated career, Robert Easter
2has been supported by his loving family, including his wife,
3Cheryl; a son, Brian; a daughter, Johanna Robinson; his late
4son, Aaron; and 6 grandchildren, T.J. and Brennan Easter and
5Katelyn, Andrew, Olivia, and Josie Robinson, with whom he
6anticipates spending much more of his time; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Robert Easter embodies the qualities that the
8University of Illinois seeks to instill in every graduate -
9wisdom and integrity, leadership, a strong work ethic,
10respectfulness and thoughtfulness, loyalty and commitment, and
11deep devotion to serving the people of Illinois and our nation;
12therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
15congratulate Robert A. Easter on the occasion of his retirement
16and wish him continued success and happiness in the future; and
17be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to Robert A. Easter as a symbol of our esteem and
20respect.