|
 He acknowledged the LC Normal Campus as another source of great
pride along with the ABE program there.
As he concluded his acknowledgments he also recognized the Lincoln
Heritage Museum.
He then said, “There is going to be a year-long celebration of the
150th Anniversary, so we’ve got a lot more partying to do.”
He talked about the first trustees and the challenges they faced,
needing $25,000 to build structures. and worrying over how to raise
money and gather students for enrollment. He shared that the current
board of trustees has similar worries but on a bigger scale. He said
the first graduating class was only three students. By the second or
third graduating class, there was University Hall, a place to teach
those students. He said, “The board now that are my colleagues worry
every year, just like they did back then. But we worry about trying
to find 700 students to fill the campuses. We worry about money,
just like they did back then. The engineers tell us that it may be
close to $1 million to keep University Hall open and useful. So just
imagine the $25,000 becoming a million just to keep the building in
good shape."
 He noted the constitution of the board of trustees includes members
from a distance, “The 28 trustees come from places all the way from
California to Connecticut. Nine trustees come from the Chicago, as
it should be as we have a lot of students from Chicago. We have 11
trustees from the Logan County area, and I think if I’m right, two
of them live in houses that Robert B. Latham used to own, so we are
still tied together.”
He spoke about the evolution of the Lincoln Campus since that first
building, University Hall. He named off the many buildings that have
been built and named.
The university has built lots of buildings. Jack Nutt was a prolific
builder, and Ron Schilling his successor was a good finisher. We
have buildings named after President Dooley, President Harts 'Harts
Science,' the Meyer-Evans Building 'Student Union,' and the two
Carroll dormitories. We have a special building for admissions, one
of the more important buildings from a trustee’s viewpoint, Anna and
Bernie Behrends name is on that building. We have a building named
after a trustee who served on the board for 54 years, John R.
Gehlbach. Jack Nutt got his name on the new arena, which certainly
seems fitting."
Neal went on to thank the faculty whom he referred to as the heart
and soul of the institution.
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He noted that for the board of trustees, the “pay-off” for
their work comes every year when the college graduates a new
class. This year there is anticipation of approximately 240
students with two or four-year degrees. Recalling comments made
by Mayor Keith Snyder at the Friday ribbon cut, whose mother was
a graduate and went into teaching, Lincoln College has had an
effect on many lives.
Finally, Neal offered gratitude and praise for the current,
though soon departing college president John Blackburn. Neal
said, “He and Barb were ready to retire four or five years ago,
when he retired from Country Companies. He felt the calling to
come out of retirement after about five days to run this place
for a few more years. He has done a great job, and I know folks
on the board have sought his guidance and council. I think we
will in the future expect we’ll have to go to little league ball
games and sit by him in the stadium and listen to him saying
"that little guy is mine, and he’s doing great."
Next up to the podium was Illinois Representative from the 87th
District, Rich Brauer. Blackburn said that Brauer was a great
personal friend and a terrific friend of Lincoln College.
Brauer took the podium and offered a few opening comments before
reading a proclamation from the Illinois State Legislature
aloud.
He joked, “I’m here today, and tomorrow I have shoulder surgery
at Memorial Hospital, and he (Blackburn) is president of that
board too. So, I’m just hoping that you’re not involved with any
funeral homes.”
 More seriously, Brauer commented that the college, faculty, and
students should be very proud of those who attend the college
and come out as productive citizens.
He then read aloud from the proclamation signed by the House of
Representatives, 199th General Assembly. After the reading,
Brauer presented a copy of the resolution to Blackburn.
[Nila Smith] |
