[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 158 (Tuesday, October 27, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1545-E1546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING CHANCELLOR LARRY NEIL VANDERHOEF

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 27, 2015

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Larry Neil 
Vanderhoef, a long-serving Chancellor at the University of California, 
Davis. On October 15, Larry passed away at age 74. I was fortunate to 
call him my friend, and he will truly be missed.
  Chancellor Vanderhoef grew up from adversity and humble beginnings to 
be an incredible leader. He was raised in a small factory town in 
Wisconsin, and became the first in his family to finish high school and 
one of the few in his small town to go to college. He received his BA 
and MS in Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and he 
later pursued and received his Ph.D in Plant Biochemistry from Purdue 
University.
  The Chancellor was a true visionary and academic diplomat, not just 
for the University of Davis but also for the wider Davis community. His 
extraordinary dedication is best described by the legacy he leaves 
behind. He devoted more than a quarter-century of his life to UC Davis, 
first as Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor from 1984 to 1994, and 
then as Chancellor for fifteen years after that--finally retiring in 
2009. He was an academic servant who had a vision for UC Davis, and 
today the campus is one of the top leading research universities in the 
nation.
  Throughout his life, Chancellor Vanderhoef was a tireless advocate 
for higher education whose passion and dedication transformed UC Davis. 
Almost every aspect of the university was impacted by his efforts to 
improve the education system, including the university's national 
rankings, student population, faculty, and research initiatives and 
facilities. Under Chancellor Vanderhoef's leadership, student 
enrollment grew from 22,000 to more than 30,000, the faculty increased 
by 44%, classroom, lab, and office space expanded by 6 million square 
feet, and the National Science Foundation ranked UC Davis in the top 10 
in the nation for research funding among other public universities.
  He was a visionary leader who made great strides toward bettering not 
only the university, but also the community of Davis. He held a strong 
passion for music and the arts, and advocated for the construction of 
what is now the Shrem Museum of Art. His promise to build a world-class 
performing arts center was realized in 2002 when doors opened to the 
Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, placing the 
university on the world stage. The performing arts center also serves 
as a beautiful new south entrance to the campus, making it more 
accessible to the public.
  During his tenure as Chancellor, UC Davis was admitted into the 
Association of American Universities, a prestigious organization with 
only 62 members in the United States and Canada. Chancellor 
Vanderhoef's support of the sciences and medical research was reflected 
in his many initiatives on campus such as the creation of the Robert 
Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science. He also transformed the 
Sacramento County Hospital into what is known today as the highly 
renowned UC Davis Health System, providing patients with the highest of 
quality care. The health system includes the UC Davis Medical Center, 
UC Davis School of Medicine, The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, 
and the UC Davis Medical Group. Not only does the UC Davis Health 
System conduct innovative research, but it stimulates Sacramento's 
economy by creating more than 20,000 jobs and generating $3.4 billion 
annually in economic output.
  In addition to the arts and sciences, Chancellor Vanderhoef was a 
firm believer in the

[[Page E1546]]

power of academic diplomacy. While at UC Davis, he promoted study 
abroad programs and the importance of international engagement in the 
Middle East. He believed that being exposed to new cultures and new 
ways of thinking can foster dialogue and greater understanding. 
Currently, students are able to participate in numerous study abroad 
programs such as the UC Davis Quarter Abroad or Summer Program, a 
Seminar Abroad Program, or even hold an internship abroad. Today, the 
Larry N. Vanderhoef Scholarship for Study Abroad, named for his legacy, 
continues to make these unforgettable opportunities open to Davis 
students.
  Due to his many accomplishments in the Davis community, Chancellor 
Vanderhoef was granted numerous awards for his dedication and 
commitment to higher education. The Chancellor was named Sacramentan of 
the Year in 2004 by the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, 
and in 2006, he was presented with the Northern California 
International Leadership Award and was elected as an honorary member of 
the World Innovation Foundation.
  I am deeply honored to have known Chancellor Larry Neil Vanderhoef 
and to pay tribute to a great visionary who dedicated his life to 
public service and to the people of Davis. There is little doubt that 
Chancellor Vanderhoef's presence was felt throughout the entire 
community. He left a remarkable legacy, which will not soon be 
forgotten. It is my sincere hope that the students and faculty at UC 
Davis will embody the Chancellor's spirit and continue to carry his 
legacy with them throughout their lives. It is leaders like Chancellor 
Vanderhoef who inspire change and make the most impact on those around 
them.

                          ____________________