The trio of state universities in Iowa are about to lose the services of a great man.

Michael Gartner, a native son of this state, will be stepping down early from his position as president of the Board of Regents next year. Gartner’s service to this state, the nation, the press and the state universities of Iowa has been immeasurable.

From his days at The Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune to his tenure as president of NBC News, and his service to his state as president of the Board of Regents as well as chairman of the Vision Iowa Fund, he has steadfastly exhibited the determination, integrity, honesty and leadership all too often lacking in our public officials, elected or otherwise.

Gartner’s writing and editing careers alone place him among the more distinguished citizens of this state. During a career that ran the gamut of media outlets, his writing has been admired by many readers not only locally, but nationally. His work earned him a Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing in 1997 for his work with the Ames Tribune, particularly for his editorials regarding community issues. He also served as the president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

More than that, however, Gartner’s public service at home is a remarkable record of level-headed, calm, reasonable leadership, even in times of political instability at the State House, economic instability within the state and regardless of whom the tenant of Terrace Hill happened to be.

Previous to his work on the Board of Regents, he was chairman of the Iowa Values Fund, a controversial – yet ultimately successful – state entity. During his time there, the organization oversaw funding of such projects as Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines.

As president of the Iowa Board of Regents, Gartner’s leadership has been an invaluable asset to the state universities and the state at large.

Criticized at times – most notably during the debacle that the presidential search at the University of Iowa became – he nonetheless has served our regents institutions with fervor, dedicating the kind of minute care and precise management that these institutions desperately required and which will be missed dearly.

Under often-intense criticism during the University of Iowa’s presidential search, Gartner dealt with the debacle in such a way as to eventually allow the more-than-$200,000 logjam to clear, ending months of speculation, bickering, politicking and unnecessary delay, not to mention public embarrassment.

Last year’s legislative session can possibly be considered the crowning achievement of his tenure as regents president, when he spearheaded the drive to fully fund the state universities’ budget requests.

Amid controversy and the usual State House politics, this effort was ultimately successful, in large part thanks to Gartner’s diligence.

Other accomplishments include pragmatic efficiency considerations – such as the consolidation of the universities’ public radio station – as well as the institution of an internal auditing system within the Regents institutions.

In short, Gartner’s record speaks for itself. Although he was not always popular, his decisions in leadership have led to brighter days for higher education here in Iowa, and his public service as a whole has been an exemplary template for future leadership.

Michael Gartner is a model of higher citizenship, responsibility, and public service – a model of excellence that every citizen of this state should take note of.

Mr. Gartner, our hats are off. We thank you.

– Ryan Frederick is a senior in management from Orient.