HR0363 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0363 LRB099 11542 GRL 32902 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Robert A. Easter on the occasion of his retirement as President of the University of Illinois system, with main campuses in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield and programs that touch nearly every corner of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter's distinguished service as the 19th President of the University of Illinois capped a nearly 40-year career at the State's flagship university, a global leader in education and research, and one of the nation's original land-grant universities; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter's long association with the University of Illinois dates back even further, to 1973, when he left his native Texas to begin doctoral studies on the Urbana-Champaign campus after earning a bachelor's degree in agricultural education and a master's in animal nutrition from Texas A & M University, where he earned membership in the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter completed his doctorate in animal sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1976, and was immediately hired to begin his academic and research career as an assistant professor in the Department of Animal Sciences, conducting research on and teaching about livestock feeding; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter's teaching excellence earned numerous awards, including the Young Animal Scientist Award for Outstanding Teacher from the Midwest Section of the American Society of Animal Science, along with awards at the departmental and college levels at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter's pioneering research has made him an internationally known expert in livestock feeding; he has participated in lectures, academic programs, and private consulting on swine-related topics across the United States and in 30 foreign countries; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter's scholarship has advanced science, contributing to a book he co-authored on livestock production; he also wrote more than 90 peer-reviewed articles, 11 book chapters, and numerous papers for conferences and industry publications; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter's expertise earned an appointment by President George W. Bush in 2006 to the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development, which advises the United States Agency for International Development on issues relating to food insecurity in developing nations; he also served a term as chair during his service from 2006 to 2011; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter's scholarship has earned him membership in prestigious professional societies, including the American Society of Animal Science and the British Society of Animal Science; he was also appointed to serve on the Illinois Council for Food and Agricultural Research, the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation, and the Governor's Committee on China; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter has served the interests of the State of Illinois, the nation, and the world through his agricultural expertise; his contributions have been recognized with the Award in Nonruminant Nutrition Research from the American Society of Animal Sciences, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Agriculture's prestigious Paul A. Funk Award for contributions to Illinois agriculture, the Illinois Pork Producers Industry Spotlight and Industry Service Awards, and the Illinois Farm Bureau Charles Schumann Award, the Farm Bureau's highest honor and given in recognition of lifelong support for agriculture in Illinois and across the nation; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter shared his talents in leadership at the University of Illinois, serving as head of the Department of Animal Sciences from 1996 to 2001; he was also dean of the nationally-ranked College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences from 2002 to 2009; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter's planned retirement in 2009 marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career that reflects the commitment and loyalty that stand as the hallmark of his service to the University of Illinois and the people of the State; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter delayed his retirement to answer the call when the University of Illinois needed his wisdom and steady hand during difficult times, serving as interim provost and chancellor of the Urbana-Champaign campus from 2009 to 2011; he later stepped out of retirement to serve as the 19th President of the University from July of 2012 to May of 2015; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter is the only person in the 148 years since the founding of the University of Illinois to serve in each of those critical leadership roles; and

WHEREAS, Under Robert Easter's leadership as President, the University of Illinois has continued its rise as one of the world's premier universities, growing to a record 78,000 students across its 3 campuses, awarding more than 20,000 degrees annually, and increasing research funding to nearly $1 billion; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter has sought to expand the world-class facilities at the University of Illinois, playing a key role in projects that include the launch of Blue Waters, the fastest supercomputer on any college campus in the world; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter has been a steadfast advocate for the University of Illinois' land-grant mission of student access and affordability, holding tuition increases to their lowest levels in 2 decades during his term as President, including a tuition freeze for incoming, in-state freshmen for the 2015-2016 academic year; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter has been a champion for serving the needs of not only the students but the people of Illinois, seeking to drive progress and economic growth through the University's graduates and the innovation spawned by its research discoveries; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter served his country as an officer in the United States Army Reserve for 2 decades, retiring at the rank of Major; and

WHEREAS, During his long, decorated career, Robert Easter has been supported by his loving family, including his wife, Cheryl; a son, Brian; a daughter, Johanna Robinson; his late son, Aaron; and 6 grandchildren, T.J. and Brennan Easter and Katelyn, Andrew, Olivia, and Josie Robinson, with whom he anticipates spending much more of his time; and

WHEREAS, Robert Easter embodies the qualities that the University of Illinois seeks to instill in every graduate - wisdom and integrity, leadership, a strong work ethic, respectfulness and thoughtfulness, loyalty and commitment, and deep devotion to serving the people of Illinois and our nation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Robert A. Easter on the occasion of his retirement and wish him continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Robert A. Easter as a symbol of our esteem and respect.