[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 131 (Tuesday, November 16, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING ORVILLE G. BENTLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. TIMOTHY V. JOHNSON

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 16, 2004

  Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on October 10, 2004 the 
University of Illinois College of Agriculture lost one of the most 
influential leaders in its history. Orville G. Bentley served as Dean 
of the College from 1965-1982. When Mr. Bentley took the helm, the 
facilities of the College were below par, making it hard to retain 
graduate students and faculty. However, he quickly became the College's 
champion for improving research and teaching facilities and as a 
result, the College of Agriculture, is today among the best in the 
country.
  Apart from improvements on campus, Orville was most proud of the 
vital international work the University of Illinois provided during his 
tenure. Under his stewardship the University of Illinois made 
substantial contributions to creating new agricultural institutions in 
Africa and the Asian sub-continent.
  Dean Bentley left the University of Illinois in 1982 to join the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, but he will be remembered as someone who 
always made time for his colleagues and thoroughly enjoyed welcoming 
visitors from different parts of the world. In his 17 years of service 
to the University of Illinois, Orville G. Bentley was instrumental in 
improving the College's facilities and in making Illinois a leader in 
the international agricultural arena. His contributions will be 
treasured and his character will be missed.

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