SR0786LRB097 21652 GRL 69965 r


  
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

  
 
 
 
SR0786- 2 -LRB097 21652 GRL 69965 r

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.