Longtime trustees honored, new trustees elected

1:43 p.m., Dec. 2, 2003--Four members of the University’s Board of Trustees stepped down at the end of their terms, another trustee was re-elected and three new trustees were elected to join the board at its semiannual meeting Dec. 11 at the Trabant University Center.

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.

According to the charter, the position of honorary counselor, given “in recognition of long and distinguished service to the University,” allows the honoree to attend all the board’s meetings and speak on any topic coming before it.

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:

Irwin G. Burton III, vice president of i.g. Burton Co. Inc., a business that manages land acquisitions and leases, expansions, dealerships and new franchises;

Glen J. Gormley, who leads the AstraZeneca U.S. Clinical Development organization; and

A. Gilchrist Sparks III, a partner in the Wilmington law firm Morris, Nichols Arsht & Tunnell.

Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson

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