 In a public meeting, Dr. Stephen C. Beering was named President of Purdue University. I accept this responsibility humbly because of the enormity of the task, but gladly because it is an exciting opportunity to make a difference. As the Purdue Hymn says, you will be cherished in memory, and the impact of your lives and actions will serve as a foundation of excellence in the decades of the 21st century and full. The Beering years have crystallized what the university does best. Take the institution's excellence to a new height and share Purdue's reputation and can-do attitude with the global community. Steve Beering was a lot of things. Most importantly, he was a servant of others who approached the world with kindness, compassion, and caring. Yes, he was a great boiler maker, and that's a proud thing to be, but he was beyond that a great citizen of this country whose orbit I am so grateful to have passed.