[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 77 (Wednesday, June 6, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1032]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT AREND DON LUBBERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 6, 2001

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man whose name is 
synonymous with higher education in Michigan and across the United 
States. After 32 years as president of Grand Valley State University, 
Arend Don Lubbers will retire later this month as the nation's longest-
serving state university president. During his tenure, Grand Valley 
State University has grown from a small college with a few buildings on 
the main campus in Allendale to an established university with 
additional campuses in downtown Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon, 
Traverse City, and Petoskey.
  When President Lubbers began his presidency at GVSU in January 1969, 
he was a trailblazer, holding the distinction of being one of the 
youngest college presidents in the country at the time. Recognized by 
Life magazine in 1962 for his hard work and his willingness to try new 
ideas, Lubbers lived up to the billing by building Grand Valley into a 
university that now boasts more than 42,000 alumni and is recognized as 
a premier institution in education, research, and technology.
  Grand Valley has enjoyed considerable success because President 
Lubbers has implemented his vision of how to successfully lead a 
university. During his farewell address to the campus community in 
April, he outlined four characteristics of what is required to make a 
university successful. The four characteristics--ownership, power, 
commitment, and sense of mission--have been his plan from the very 
beginning. GVSU is truly a special place today because he acted on the 
plans and ideas he envisioned for himself and the university community.
  When classes resume for the 2001-2002 school year a new era will be 
underway at GVSU. It will mark the first time since the late 1960's 
that President Lubbers will be absent from welcoming faculty, staff, 
returning students, and new students to campus. Some thirty years 
later, the school year will begin without the man who has worked 
tirelessly to achieve his vision for higher education in West Michigan. 
Even though a new chapter will have begun, the legacy of President 
Lubbers will live on as Grant Valley State University continues to 
establish itself as a model for other institutions to follow.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to personally thank President Lubbers for his 
ideas, his commitment to people and education, for laying the 
foundation for faculty, staff, and students to build on in the future 
and for his personal friendship. His personable and approachable style 
will be greatly missed by those who have had the pleasure of working 
alongside and with him over the years. He's truly earned the right to 
miss the first day of classes this coming school year. Congratulations 
and best wishes to President Lubbers and his wife Nancy as they begin 
their new venture!

                          ____________________