Release date: May 10, 2005
Contact: Beverly Cox Clark, Assistant Director, University Media Relations,
at 404-712-8780 or beverly.clark@emory.edu

Oxford University Leader to Receive Honorary Degree from Emory May 16

Lord Robin Butler, head of University College at Oxford University and a long-time British civil servant, will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Emory University during the university's 160th commencement Monday, May 16. Butler will join four other honorary degree recipients this year: renowned journalist and author Tom Brokaw, who will deliver the keynote address; Atlanta developer Tom Cousins; nursing scholar Sue Hegyvary; and former Emory Law School Dean Ben F. Johnson Jr.

Butler became well known in the United States in July 2004 for "The Butler Report" following an investigative inquiry he led of the United Kingdom's political leadership and intelligence community prior to the war in Iraq. British Prime Minister Tony Blair appointed Butler to head the inquiry because of his longtime service at the highest levels of British government under both Labour and Conservative governments.

During his career, Butler served as private secretary to five prime ministers. He was knighted in 1988 and later that year appointed secretary of the cabinet and head of the Home Civil Service, becoming Britain's highest-ranking civil servant. Upon his retirement in 1998, Butler was designated a Life Peer, a member of the British Parliament independent of any political party affiliation.

Butler became master (academic head) of University College, Oxford, his alma mater, in 1998, leading one of the oldest colleges at one of the world's most prestigious universities. He regularly uses contacts made during his public service to benefit Emory students participating in the British Studies' Summer Study in England.

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