In an understated ceremony with a flavor more akin
to a county fair than a presidential sendoff, the Emory community
bid adieu to the Bill Chace presidency Aug. 29 with the most fitting
of tributes: a tree planting.
By 2:30 p.m., a crowd of about a hundred had gathered on the Quadrangle
in front of Bowden Hall, where last spring a venerable tree that
had fallen ill was euthanized. In its place stood what could become
known as “The Chace Oak,” a young nuttall oak waiting
for its nest of dirt. University Secretary Gary Hauk stepped to
the microphone and welcomed those in attendance, adding the planting
was appropriate not only to commemorate the Chace administration
but to celebrate the work of JoAn Chace in protecting the Emory
environment.
“In recognition of the remarkable and invigorating presence
JoAn has been on campus, and her guiding spirit in protecting the
Emory forest, this lovely oak tree replaces the tree that passed
away last spring,” Hauk said before he introduced John Wegner—Emory’s
new “CEO”: chief environmental officer—to speak
more about the Chaces.
“I represent all the trees who can’t come to the meeting,”
Wegner said of his new job, to which he was appointed by Chace in
May. “President and Mrs. Chace, I speak not only on behalf
of the humans but on behalf of all the organisms on campus. Your
simple leadership has allowed this community to do a lot of good
things.”
Wegner ran down a list of the University’s environmental initiatives
during the Chace presidency, from the formulation and adoption of
the Campus Master Plan and Lullwater Management Plan; to establishing
flourishing programs in alternative transportation, recycling and
“green” purchasing; to creating the Department of Environmental
Studies; to developing the Environmental Mission Statement that
led to Wegner’s very appointment. JoAn Chace helped found
the Friends of Emory Forest and also participated in a number of
environmental groups on campus, Wegner added.
“I’ll leave you with a quote about the true meaning
of life,” he said. “The true meaning of life is to plant
trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”
Hauk read the poem, “Advice From a Tree,” by Ilan Shamir,
then presented the Chaces with their own commemorative yellow plastic
cups, which also were available for everyone in attendance. Along
with the date of the ceremony, the cups bore a pair of Celtic tidings—Mait
Deanam (“Well done”) and Slán Abaile
“Safe homeward”)—to bid the Chaces well as
they prepare to spend a sabbatical year in Connecticut before returning
to the English faculty for 2004–05.
“I’ve never, in fact, hugged a tree before,” JoAn
Chace said, “but I’m tempted to hug this one.”
Her husband spoke of the Emory community’s role in what was
accomplished during his tenure.
“The pronoun that is right here is ‘we,’”
Bill Chace added. “We did a lot of things in the last decade,
and we did them together.”
Chace then quipped that, when he heard where the ceremony would
take place, he was certain the occasion was for a stump removal.
“Which,” he said, “in a certain way is appropriate.”
The Chaces grabbed a shovel each and deposited the first sprinklings
of dirt onto the tree planted in their honor, then invited everyone
in the crowd to do the same. Five minutes later, a small mountain
of dirt surrounded the tree on every side. Jimmy Powell, superintendent
of roads and grounds for Facilities Management, said the nuttall
oak was selected for its ability to grow well in acid soils (like
Georgia clay); at maturity it will reach a height of some 80 feet
with a spread of 50 feet, and Powell said the tree should reach
a “substantial size” within five to seven years.
Following the planting, the Chaces received individual well wishes
at a tent reception held in front of Pitts Library. Ice cream carts
and Coke stands dotted the Quadrangle, and the band Moira Bridget
Nelligan entertained the crowd with Irish music. Attendees were
invited to a table to write notes to the Chaces on white index cards,
and by the time the reception concluded, the nearby basket was full
of the cards, bearing personalized sentiments to Emory’s 18th
president and his wife.
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