The Florida Polytechnic University Board of Trustees approved a resolution honoring former Trustee Richard “Dick” Hallion for his dedication and service to the board and the University during its meeting on Feb. 26.
“When the Board of Trustees of Florida Polytechnic University had its first meeting back in 2012, we met in city hall using the city commission chambers and one of the people around the table was Dick Hallion. The campus was still a construction site,” Board Chair Donald Wilson said. “It was important that he be there because he brought the combination of expertise in STEM education and knowledge of the real world with particular emphasis on the aviation industry.”
Hallion stepped down from the board in July of 2019. He is a retired aerospace analyst and executive with the U.S. Air Force.
“To me, the two things that really stand out in my own career and that I’m proudest of are being involved in the establishment of the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian in the 1970s, and secondly the establishment of Florida Poly,” Hallion said. “We really started with very little and made great things out of that.”
Wilson said the University’s progress was due in large part to Hallion’s hard work.
“Over the years he has contributed much to Florida Poly and his footprint will be here from now on,” Wilson said during the meeting held inside the Student Development Center.
Dr. Randy K. Avent, Florida Poly’s president, said he was thankful to have had Hallion’s support during his time as a trustee.
“It’s been great having him on the board,” Avent said. “He’s offered great advice to us, and personally to me as well.”
Hallion said he was grateful for the recognition, but was sure to tell the board the progress was due to the effort of the entire board.
“I am in awe of the way that each and every one of you came together to make this possible, and I think that will serve this institution well, the state of Florida well, and indeed, the country well in the future,” Hallion said.
“Looking back, it’s remarkable how far we’ve come.”
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