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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Dr. Robert S. Eckley of Bloomington, who
4passed away on April 15, 2012; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Robert Eckley served as president of Illinois
6Wesleyan University (IWU) from 1968 to 1986; and
 
7    WHEREAS, During Robert Eckley's tenure as president, IWU's
8endowment grew from $6.6 million in 1968 to $47.4 million in
91986 and the campus's footprint was increased from 34 acres to
1058 acres; his insistence on recruiting quality faculty members
11helped make IWU among the top-ranked liberal arts colleges in
12the Midwest; numerous facilities were also constructed and
13renovated during his tenure, including the Mark Evans
14Observatory, Dodds Residence Hall, the Alice Millar Center for
15the Fine Arts, Evelyn Chapel, Fort Natatorium, the President's
16House, and the campus' quadrangle, which was renamed in honor
17of him and his wife in 1998; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Through the Eckley Family Foundation, Robert
19Eckley and his family have raised thousands of dollars in
20contributions that will enable IWU to provide more
21opportunities for undergraduates to do on-campus research and
22enhance the school's academic excellence in other ways; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Robert Eckley is survived by his wife, Nell Mann
2Eckley; his children, Paul Nelson (Penelope Diane) Eckley,
3Robert George (Mary Mata) Eckley, Jane Ann (David Gartshore)
4Lennon, and Rebecca Helen (Kenneth) Melchert; and his 5
5grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
8his family and friends, the passing of Dr. Robert S. Eckley;
9and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11presented to the family of Robert Eckley as an expression of
12our sympathy.