Upfront: MSU Calls On A Familiar Spartan
MSU CALLS ON A FAMILIAR SPARTAN
In the summer of 1991, my family and that of associate director Keith Williams enjoyed a weekend in Charlevoix as guests of Gordon and Norma Guyer. It was a memorable occasion. I remember each morning at 4:45 a.m. Gordon assembled us in a boat to go coho fishing. The fog was heavy but he knew exactly where we were going for the day's catch. Gordon's excellent helmsmanship sticks out in my mind now that Michigan State has tapped him to lead us during this transition period. Having served with him as a friend, as a colleague, as a partner in many university programs, and as a fishing partner, I have total confidence that Gordon will skipper us with assurance in the coming months as MSU's interim president.
For starters, Gordon is Green with a capital 'G.' He boasts three degrees from MSU, all in entomology. His relationship with his alma mater spans four and a half decades; most recently he served as vice president of governmental affairs. For many years was the director of MSU's Cooperative Extension Service, which has offices in every county of our state. After his first retirement, he was named director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. MSU then called on him to take charge of governmental affairs. Now, for the third time, he has been asked to un-retire to serve the university. 'I only accept it with one approach--full steam ahead,' declared Gordon in accepting the challenge in June.
Don't expect him to shake everyone up, though. Gordon clearly knows how to work with people, as evidenced by from his unanimous 8-0 support from MSU's Board of Trustees. Here in the alumni association, we have built many relationships with Gordon, who is a former member of our national alumni board. He was the catalyst behind the 'People to People' program in which MSU units, including the MSU Alumni Association, participated in a dozen or so community meetings across the state to meet with local leaders.
Gordon's leadership has made it possible for us to get alumni involved in legislative advocacy. For example, we have implemented programs such as 'Spartans Under the Dome,' an annual campus tailgate for MSU lawmakers, and 'Make A State Friend,' a program that involves our in-state regional clubs. At the national level, Gordon's governmental affairs office, the alumni association, and the Washington, D.C. alumni regional club worked together to host an annual reception for our Washington delegation in the U.S. Congress. The program also drew the support of the University of Michigan and Wayne State University.
Gordon and his wife Norma, an active member of the Faculty Folk Club of MSU and the MSU Blue Line Club, have accompanied us on bowl trips to Hawaii and Texas. Last year they were in Dayton to cheer on the basketball team in the NCAA tournament. In 1990, Gordon was the speaker for alumni clubs in Florida, and I couldn't help but notice how much our alumni and retirees there both liked and respected Gordon Guyer. In Gordon we have a leader I completely trust to have the right instincts for the university. Why am I so sure? For one thing, he's an expert on insects, the first president in 34 years to have a background in agricultural science. The last one, poultry scientist John Hannah, managed OK.
