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JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING ROBERT L. WOODBURY, THE LATE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM
WHEREAS, Robert L. Woodbury, of Falmouth, passed away from lymphoma in September 2009 at the age of 71 after living a vital and energetic life of commitment to other people and to the field of education, not only in Maine but in the international arena as well; and
WHEREAS,  Chancellor Woodbury graduated from Belmont Hill School in 1956 and from Amherst College in 1960, and he earned a doctorate in American Studies from Yale University in 1966, beginning his career as a professor at the California Institute of Technology before becoming a senior administrator at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst; and
WHEREAS,  Chancellor Woodbury came to Maine with his family to serve as the President of the University of Southern Maine in 1979, a time of great growth and expansion for the former University of Maine at Portland-Gorham, and he led the university after the merger of the Portland and Gorham schools and helped establish the Edmund Muskie Institute of Public Affairs; and
WHEREAS,  the University of Southern Maine community honored Chancellor Woodbury’s excellent service by naming the building that contained the student center, a cafeteria and the university bookstore on the expanding Portland campus the Robert L. Woodbury Campus Center; and
WHEREAS,  Chancellor Woodbury went on to serve as Chancellor of the University of Maine System, overseeing the State's 7 university campuses from 1986 to 1993, and he ran for Governor of the State of Maine, hoping he could continue to serve the people of Maine; and
WHEREAS,  Chancellor Woodbury served on a multitude of educational boards, including serving as chair of the board of the Council on International Educational Exchange, and remained an educator even in retirement, helping to found American University in Bulgaria and working to develop city-to-city exchanges between the United States and South Africa just before he died; and
WHEREAS,  Chancellor Woodbury was devoted to his wife and his family, a major source of pride for him, and he was happy to have all of his children and their families living nearby in Maine throughout his retirement; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Legislature now assembled in the Second Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to honor the memory of Robert L. Woodbury and his commitment, dedication and work for the people of the State of Maine.