A few weeks ago, I received a voicemail trom Janet McNew. After a bit of phone tag, Janet called me back and asked if I would be willing to share some of my memories of President Myers at this service. I didn't hesitate to say yes.

However, I had a bit of trouble narrowing down exactly what to talk about, so I consulted with as many friends and alums as possible, hoping to find a few common threads of collective memories to share with you all today. What I found in my search was this: everyone who attended Illinois Wesleyan, worked with President Myers, visited campus or somehow encountered Minor during his tenure had their own unique and fond memories of him — far too varied to summarize.

I think our countless memories are a testament to the way he lived his life. He was beyond categorization. Everything seemed to excite him: music, sports, history, this University. I find great solace in the thought that Minor's legacy will live on in so many different forms and through so many different people. But, what I will remember most about Minor would be his humor and his speeches.

Over the years, Minor and I had many conversations on topics ranging from campus issues and plans for after colleges to hair care products. He always found a way to bring humor into our conversations no matter how serious the subject. His humor would sometimes sneak up on you. And, out of the blue, Minor would say something that was endlessly funny and completely unexpected.

During my junior year, I had broken my foot at a track meet and was confined to a cast for a couple of weeks. I stumbled into Minor in Sheean Library one day when he inquired about what had happened. After explaining how and what I had done, Minor took a second look around the library and then looked at me and said, "You know, Harold, I have never broken anything studying here in the library."

Another of his many talents was public speaking. The words he delivered had such an endearing quality. I am positive that everyone in this room has had the opportunity to hear Minor speak publicly. But, more than the speeches he prepared and delivered, I will most miss his off-the-cuff commentaries.

He usually shared the stage with multiple speakers, and while they gave their remarks you would always see him scribbling on the back of some random piece of paper. At first glance you would think he was completely bored or in deep thought concocting some new program or working on his next book, not even paying attention to the other speakers. But when his turn at the podium arrived you would learn that the notes he was taking were of each speaker. He would always find a way to tie the comments of various speakers all together, sometimes sounding better or making statements more profound than the speaker had originally intended.

That was Minor's gift. Every day, he tied us all together — from leading the charge to build a library and a student center bringing this community closer together to simply encouraging students to follow their hearts when making some of their life's most importance decisions.

Minor is and will always remain part of the collage that is IWU. His name now joins Harriett, Lloyd and Coach as one of the people who were instrumental in making this University what it is today. Minor's spirt will live on through his countless accomplishments but most importantly he will live through all of our memories.