University of Illinois

Speeches and statements

Introduction of Mannie Jackson

President B. Joseph White
Black Alumni Reunion Chicago Committee
Mid-America Club, Chicago
June 18, 2008

Good evening. I am honored to introduce our keynote speaker, Mannie Jackson.

First, I want to add my welcome to all of you. I hope that most of you had some wonderful experiences during your years at the University of Illinois. I know from conversations I’ve had that many of you did not experience the full inclusion and respect that you deserved both on campus and in town. I’m sorry for that. Have no doubt that you are today valued, respected, and always welcome members of the U of I family.

On a related point, yesterday we had the opportunity to announce the appointment of Paula Allen-Meares as the next Chancellor of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is an extraordinary academic leader. She will be the first African-American Chancellor or Vice President of our University. She didn’t get the job because of her ethnicity, she won it on merit. But she didn’t not get the job because of her ethnicity which was the case in America for too long. That’s progress.

Mannie Jackson is one of the finest people and best leaders I’ve ever met.

In fact, after I met Mannie three years ago in Phoenix, I was so impressed that I had to come home and rewrite Chapter 1 of my book,"The Nature of Leadership", in order to showcase Mannie.

Mannie is exemplary as a leader – as the all-American co-captain of the Fighting Illini, as an executive at General Motors and Honeywell, as owner and principal of the Harlem Globetrotters, as a corporate director, and as founder of the Executive Leadership Council and Chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

By exemplary, I mean that Mannie is a high integrity and high commitment leader.

He is both warm and caring and tough as nails.

And he knows how to make change, most notably in the dramatic resuscitation and turnaround of an American icon – the Harlem Globetrotters.

Mannie came to U of I from humble beginnings in Edwardsville, Illinois, with his boyhood friend, Govoner Vaughn, another U of I great. He added to his own talent a U of I education and went on to have a great family and career.

I think that for a long time, we at U of I saw Mannie Jackson as a great former athlete. Today, belatedly, we see him for what he really is – not only a great athlete but a great leader, a great man, and a great citizen of our University.

Last month, the Chancellor and I had the pleasure of awarding an honorary doctorate to Mannie in recognition of all his achievements and commitment to our University. I am, therefore, delighted to present to you this evening our graduate, your colleague, my friend, Dr. Mannie Jackson.