Like a beloved star athlete in his final season, President William R. Brody had
better prepare
himself for a round of curtain calls. He got a big one last
week, courtesy of the top elected officials in
Annapolis.
Brody, who announced earlier this month that he will
retire on Dec. 31, was honored on
Wednesday with twin recognition ceremonies in the Maryland
House of Delegates and Senate. Both
bodies passed resolutions that praised Brody's 12 years of
service as president of Johns Hopkins and
his "extraordinary contributions to the state of
Maryland."
Brody, accompanied by his wife, Wendy, and daughter,
Ingrid Bateman, began the day with a
breakfast with Gov. Martin O'Malley and his wife, Katie, in
the governor's mansion.
Brody and his family were then escorted to the House
of Delegates, where speaker Michael E.
Busch presented him with a warm welcome on behalf of the
gathered legislature.
"Today, we honor the president who has guided one of
the most prestigious universities in the
country, and in the world, the last 12 years," Busch
said.
Busch went on to hail Brody's role in steering the
leading employer in the state and a medical
institution that is second to none. Before Busch could even
finish his remarks, the gathered delegates
gave Brody a standing ovation.
When the applause ended, Brody stepped up to the
podium to express his deep appreciation for
the recognition.
"There has been no more rewarding assignment in my
professional life than to be president of
The Johns Hopkins University," he said. "And our ability to
do the things that we do, to serve
humankind, to educate the leaders of the next generation,
to discover a cure for cancer, is in no small
measure due to the wonderful support and partnership that
we have with the state of Maryland. I just
want to say thank you for all you have done."
Senate President Mike Miller,
right, offers congratulations.
Photo by Jay Van Rensselaer / HIPS
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More applause followed.
After Brody's remarks, Busch called the many Johns
Hopkins graduates and employees in the
room to the podium to have their picture taken with the
president.
Later on in the Senate chamber, President Mike Miller
introduced Brody with a similar warm
reception.
"Under your tenure, Johns Hopkins has seen
unparalleled success, and we thank you so very
much," Miller said. "You've done a great job. It's a jewel
that you have polished."
In his remarks to the Senate, Brody emphasized the
importance of health care and education to
the success of Maryland and its citizens and thanked the
elected officials for recognizing this.
"Thanks to your support for the Sellinger Aid program,
state-of-the-art academic facilities,
research and patient care," Brody said, "we have enhanced
Johns Hopkins' ability to attract the best
and brightest from around the world."
After his visit to the Senate, Brody was given a brief
tour of the Maryland State House,
including a trip to the top of the building's dome.
The event concluded with a reception in the Calvert
Room, where many members of both houses
stopped by to personally thank Brody for his service.
Among them was Sen. Nathaniel J. McFadden, who, upon
hearing of Brody's retirement, asked
that he come to be recognized for his contributions to
Maryland.
McFadden said it was an easy decision. "He has best
used the university's talent and resources
to move the city forward. Johns Hopkins has been a
significant contributor for good, and for that we
have President Brody to thank," McFadden said.
McFadden said that one of President Brody's defining
traits was his willingness to reach out to
the community.
"Dr. Brody you can always approach and talk to," he
said. "If there was an issue, he would let us
sit down and talk it out."
Del. Kumar P. Barve, the House majority leader,
perhaps succinctly summed up what many had to
say.
"He was a superb leader for one of the most important
institutions Maryland has," Barve said,
"and we're sorry to see him go."
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