STEPPING DOWN: OFFICIALS GLAD MAGRATH TO STAY FOR TAX CRUSADE

Two local leaders of higher education Thursday praised University of Missouri President C. Peter Magrath, who has announced he will resign to take an education-related job in Washington, D.C.

Both Art Wallhausen, assistant to the president at Southeast Missouri State University, and Jackson attorney John P. Lichtenegger, who serves on the University of Missouri Board of Curators, lauded Magrath for his leadership role in higher education in the state.

"It's a great loss to the state. He's been a fine leader for a number of years," said Wallhausen, who has worked with Magrath in the Missourians for Higher Education organization, a group comprising representatives of public and private colleges and universities in the state.

"I think, first of all, Dr. Magrath has provided some outstanding leadership," said Lichtenegger.

Magrath, who headed the four-campus university system for 6 years, announced Thursday that he was resigning to take a position as president of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.

Both Wallhausen and Lichtenegger said the 58-year-old Magrath was instrumental in the development of a $385 million tax-hike-for-education proposal that will be submitted to voters Nov. 5.

The measure would provide $190 million for higher education and an equal amount for elementary and secondary schools.

"By nature of his position, he made himself probably the best known university president throughout the state," said Wallhausen.

"I think he saw his position as taking the university message out to the people," added Wallhausen, "and he did it quite effectively."

Both Wallhausen and Lichtenegger said they were pleased that Magrath will stay in the state through Nov. 5 to help campaign for voter approval of the education tax measure.

"I think that it shows a keen awareness of his value to the campaign and the importance of the campaign," said Wallhausen. "He has put his life into it for six years and I think it is difficult to leave with that large of a task unfinished."

Lichtenegger, who has served on the Board of Curators for six years and is board vice president, said Magrath's leadership is vital to the tax campaign.

"I think it is absolutely necessary that he stay on (through the election). He was one of the creators and leaders in that effort (to secure increased state funding for education)."

Lichtenegger said Magrath "actually started the effort to bring new funds to education and, in particular, higher education.

"I think the legislative proposal that will be voted upon by the citizens in November might not be on the ballot were it not for Dr. Magrath," he said.

Lichtenegger said voter approval of the tax measure would be the perfect culmination of Magrath's leadership.

"If he is successful at that, I think he will go down in history as one of the finest leaders in education that this state has ever seen," said Lichtenegger.

He said the University of Missouri system has benefited from Magrath's leadership. "His strongest quality was bringing in and selecting good chancellors to run the various campuses."

Lichtenegger said Magrath's resignation was "unexpected."

But he said Magrath was well suited to be president of the National Association of State Universities, the nation's oldest and largest higher education organization.

"This just fits like a glove for him," the Jackson attorney said.

Lichtenegger said the Board of Curators will begin the search for a new university president when it meets in late July in Kansas City.

In the past, such searches have taken about a year. But he said, "I think it can be done in a much shorter time span."

Whether or not voters approve the tax measure will also have an impact on the quality and number of applicants, he said.

"That will make a major difference in terms of the type of person we will be able to attract," said Lichtenegger.

As to the selection of a new president, he said: "The primary quality or trait that you are looking for is leadership.

"You need to have somebody that can work with a very diverse population (in a) diverse state geographically and culturally, and be able to work well with a board of directors or Board of Curators.

"You want somebody with some creative ideas who is not afraid of change," said Lichtenegger.