Vice President Lamb will retire in March
Lamb was appointed interim president after Floyd's resignation.
Published Feb. 23, 2009
UM system Executive Vice President Gordon Lamb announced Monday he will retire March 1.
Lamb was named interim system president in April 2007 after the resignation of former President Elson Floyd and before the Board of Curators selected President Gary Forsee.
Board Chairman Bo Fraser said Lamb was a good leader as interim president.
"I thought he was the right person at the right term to serve as interim president," Fraser said. "He really stepped up to the plate for the university. I thought he did a great job in that position."
After Forsee was hired as president, Lamb was offered a position as the executive vice president. UM system spokeswoman Jennifer Hollingshead described it as a position created primarily for Lamb to help with Forsee's transition into office.
Fraser said he is sad to see Lamb leave the university.
"Forsee asked him to stay on for a year while he got acclimated to his new position and he had some special duties for him," Fraser said. "I think he performed those quite admirably. He has been a big asset to the university. He was not just a caretaker while he was the interim. He moved the university forward."
Lamb mentioned two of the most public things that he arranged as his top accomplishments: the Missouri 100 and his assembly of a coalition of health care professionals. The Missouri 100 helped to promote the university, ensuring it would remain important, not only to the state but also on a worldwide level.
According to a UM news release, Lamb also constructed a coalition of universities and colleges designed to address the shortage of doctors, nurses and health care professionals in the state.
Lamb also issued a statement in September 2007 in support of academic freedom in response to a proposed amendment that would tighten restrictions on stem cell research.
Hollingshead said Lamb's term of service was completed, which called for his retirement.
"His agreement when he stayed on after President Forsee was hired was that he would help with the transition for about a year's time," Hollingshead said. "Forsee just celebrated his one-year anniversary and Lamb felt his time of service was complete here at the university."
Fraser said Lamb's dwindling health could have also been a factor in his retirement.
"He's had some health issues that have made it difficult on him to function the past couple months," Fraser said. "I think he has been in the hospital the majority of the last two months."
Despite Lamb's health problems, Forsee said in a news release the support from Lamb and his wife Nancy has been "invaluable."
"Gordon has been an integral part of the university system, and his wisdom, leadership and commitment to higher education will be missed," Forsee said.
Lamb said now that he's retiring, he's just going to relax.
