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Longtime trustees honored, new trustees elected
Two departing trustees were accorded special recognition by their colleagues. Robert F. Rider, who was elected to the board in 1985 and chaired the Trustee Committee on Grounds and Buildings from 1989 to 2003, was named trustee emeritus. During his chairmanship, 34 new buildings were added to the University, and some 1,400 grounds and buildings projects with a value of $706.7 million were completed or approved.
Board Chairman Howard E. Cosgrove showed slides of just some of the many enhancements to the campus physical plant and read a citation that said, in part, Always the gentleman, Mr. Rider brought his calm demeanor, friendly nature, reasonable disposition and sound integrity to every discussion. Andrew B. Kirkpatrick Jr., a member of the board since 1982 and chairman from 1988-99, was named honorary counselor to the board, an honor bestowed only once before in board history when Judge Hugh Morris, for whom the library is now named, was given the title in 1959. Cosgrove read a special tribute, originally written by the late Judge G. Burton Pearson Jr. , a UD benefactor and long-time member of the board, in honor of Judge Morris. That tribute read in part: Serving with him has afforded us delightful companionship. He has emanated forcefulness, courage and concentration, attended by kindness, patience, consideration, optimism and humor. We have found him all ways worthy of the characterization of a great man. Is it not remarkable how these words from more than 44 years ago so closely reflect the man we honor today? Cosgrove asked. Judge Morris and Andy Kirkpatrick each worked diligently to ensure the vitality of the charter, a document that both believed to be an important element in the ongoing success of the University, he said.
Cosgrove also thanked two other trustees whose terms on the board ended: William T. Allen and Edward B. du Pont. In other action, the board re-elected P. Coleman Townsend Jr. to a six-year term, and elected three new trustees, each to a six-year term:
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