Thoughts on Leadership

Leadership requires a clear sense of purpose, objectives, direction and the conviction to stay focused to pursue them vigorously. This makes one’s life more enjoyable and worthwhile and changes the course that otherwise would be.  

This leadership is required in our schools, politics, hospitals, businesses, laboratories and other institutions.  A civilization cannot grow and protect its people without developing leaders of high principle in all aspects of society.  It is good advice to adopt solid and proven objectives for yourself.  Take your responsibilities seriously and be sure to complete them.  I was lucky to have many, many role models, some for whom I worked or had close personal observations, and some were those about whom I studied and read.

Gloria and I are convinced that education is the single most important imperative in our country today; that an education without developing leadership in our students is totally incomplete in this worldwide era in which we must now compete.  If the educated do not have leadership qualities, they will not only fall far short of the benefits of their own education, they will certainly not affect geometric progression of learning in our society.  This expansion of learning will be required to bring all of our people into being more productive and useful in our complex worldwide society.  Therefore, our gift in creating a permanent Leadership Center at the University of Oregon will create an energy source that will greatly expand the geometric progression of education.  Our vision is that the Leadership Center can enable the University of Oregon to compound the influence of learning.  This will have great beneficial effect for our country.

If “Education is the progressive discovery of our own ignorance”, then we must provide every power to continue educating our people long after they have completed their formal studies and received their degrees.

Glen  A. Holden

University of Oregon (Class of ’51)

Gloria  A. Holden

University of Oregon (Class of ’50)