Former U-M president dies at 93
Sirius Welch
Issue date: 2/1/10 Section: Local News
Former University of Michigan President Robben Wright Fleming died Jan. 11 at the age of 93. He served as president from 1968-1978 and in 1988 as an interim. During his presidency, UM-Flint and UM-Dearborn were made four-year institutions and in 1971, Fleming appointed William E. Moran as the first Chancellor of UM-Flint.
“[Fleming was] delightful in his personal relationships,” Moran said. Fleming was “easy to talk to,” “good humored” and “all in all, very, very well-designed to handle the job that he had.”
Fleming was born in the small town of Paw Paw, Illinois in 1916 and was valedictorian of his high school class. “In American folklore the place to be born and to spend your childhood is in a small town,” Fleming said in his auto-biography Tempests into Rainbows: Managing Turbulence. Fleming arrived in Ann Arbor with a canoe atop his car and a trailer hitched behind it. “My entry into the academic world was an accident of the time, but it was a career that I loved, even though it included a difficult period of student unrest,” Fleming said.
After Fleming reached an agreement with BAM (Black Action Movement) to set a goal of 10 percent black application admittance and to provide financial aid to black students, the vice president at the time, Spiro Agnew commented that “In a few years’ time perhaps—thanks to the University of Michigan’s callow retreat from reality— America will give the diplomas from Michigan the fish eye that the Italians now give diplomas from the University of Rome.” Others were more receptive to the agreement, such as Governor Milliken and the Detroit Free Press.
Fleming and his wife Sally were married for 63 years and traveled all over the world together to places such as Israel, Beirut, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, South America, Russia, China, South Africa and the British Isles. These trips were sponsored by various universities and foundations. “Our lives were enriched by the travel, we had a far better understanding of other cultures, and we were always glad to come home, even when it meant facing some unpleasant problem,” Fleming said.
Fleming also served in the military during World War II. “I probably learned more about the American people in basic training than I ever did thereafter,” Fleming said. Fleming also attended the officer candidate school in Fort Custer, Mich.
Elisa Frye, a student at U-M during Fleming’s presidency remembered what he thought of students. “It was clear he thought the University existed for them-not that they existed for the University,” Frye said.
When one of Fleming’s student tea parties was “crashed” by student activists hoping to get kicked out to spread their story to the paper, Fleming had them stay. The activists then compared his backbone to a shaking mold of Jell-O, and sang a song about Fleming’s “less desirable aspects.” At the end of all this, Fleming clapped and offered them cookies and punch, which they then filled their bags with and left.
“I am an inveterate optimist,” Fleming said. Fleming is remembered for his great leadership, calm demeanor, kindness and ability to laugh at himself.
Sirius can be reached at siriusw@umflint.edu.
“[Fleming was] delightful in his personal relationships,” Moran said. Fleming was “easy to talk to,” “good humored” and “all in all, very, very well-designed to handle the job that he had.”
Fleming was born in the small town of Paw Paw, Illinois in 1916 and was valedictorian of his high school class. “In American folklore the place to be born and to spend your childhood is in a small town,” Fleming said in his auto-biography Tempests into Rainbows: Managing Turbulence. Fleming arrived in Ann Arbor with a canoe atop his car and a trailer hitched behind it. “My entry into the academic world was an accident of the time, but it was a career that I loved, even though it included a difficult period of student unrest,” Fleming said.
After Fleming reached an agreement with BAM (Black Action Movement) to set a goal of 10 percent black application admittance and to provide financial aid to black students, the vice president at the time, Spiro Agnew commented that “In a few years’ time perhaps—thanks to the University of Michigan’s callow retreat from reality— America will give the diplomas from Michigan the fish eye that the Italians now give diplomas from the University of Rome.” Others were more receptive to the agreement, such as Governor Milliken and the Detroit Free Press.
Fleming and his wife Sally were married for 63 years and traveled all over the world together to places such as Israel, Beirut, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, South America, Russia, China, South Africa and the British Isles. These trips were sponsored by various universities and foundations. “Our lives were enriched by the travel, we had a far better understanding of other cultures, and we were always glad to come home, even when it meant facing some unpleasant problem,” Fleming said.
Fleming also served in the military during World War II. “I probably learned more about the American people in basic training than I ever did thereafter,” Fleming said. Fleming also attended the officer candidate school in Fort Custer, Mich.
Elisa Frye, a student at U-M during Fleming’s presidency remembered what he thought of students. “It was clear he thought the University existed for them-not that they existed for the University,” Frye said.
When one of Fleming’s student tea parties was “crashed” by student activists hoping to get kicked out to spread their story to the paper, Fleming had them stay. The activists then compared his backbone to a shaking mold of Jell-O, and sang a song about Fleming’s “less desirable aspects.” At the end of all this, Fleming clapped and offered them cookies and punch, which they then filled their bags with and left.
“I am an inveterate optimist,” Fleming said. Fleming is remembered for his great leadership, calm demeanor, kindness and ability to laugh at himself.
Sirius can be reached at siriusw@umflint.edu.
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