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Northern Illinois University

NIU Office of Public Affairs


William R. Monat
William R. Monat

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News Release

Contact: Joe King, NIU Office of Public Affairs
(815) 753-4299

April 21, 2005

University to honor Monat April 26

DeKalb, Ill. — Northern Illinois University will recognize its former president, William R. Monat, by renaming the university property at Third and Locust streets in his honor.

The ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, in the lobby of the building. The public is invited to attend.

The honor recognizes Monat for his many contributions to the university as a professor, department head, provost and president. His leadership of NIU, from 1978 until 1984, is best remembered for his role in securing two new colleges for the university: the NIU College of Law and the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. Monat was also instrumental in construction of the Martin Luther King Commons, the creation of new doctoral programs and acquisition of the university the building that will now bear his name.

Built in 1927, the building at Third and Locust streets was originally the Rice Hotel. It has a long and storied history as a hotel, but fell on hard times in the 1980s. In 1982, it was purchased by local developer Thomas Rosenow who restored the building, converted its interior to office space and then leased it to the university. Monat immediately designated the building as home to several of the university's most prominent social science research centers, which have gone on to do great service to the region.

“Bill Monat set the stage for the university to become the mature teaching and research institution that it is today,” said NIU President John Peters. “It is only fitting that we honor him with such a substantial and lasting tribute.”

Monat and his wife, Jo, reside in DeKalb.

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