Statement from SMU President R. Gerald Turner on the death of President George H.W. Bush
“The SMU community joins the nation in grieving the loss of President George H.W. Bush - a servant leader who lived his entire life as a steadfast example of patriotism and the strongest American ideals. Gail and I send our heartfelt condolences to President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush, and the entire Bush family. We treasure memories of time spent with “Bush 41” when he honored us with visits to our campus, such as when he received the Medal of Freedom from the Tower Center for Political Studies, and when he proudly attended as one of five living presidents the 2013 dedication of his son’s George W. Bush Presidential Center. Our University has unique opportunities to share the lessons from a life well-lived. We intend to use them.”
SMU President R. Gerald Turner awarded President George H.W. Bush the SMU Tower Center’s Medal of Freedom in 2001, recognizing extraordinary contributions to the advancement of democratic ideals.
“The SMU community joins the nation in grieving the loss of President George H.W. Bush - a servant leader who lived his entire life as a steadfast example of patriotism and the strongest American ideals. Gail and I send our heartfelt condolences to President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush, and the entire Bush family. We treasure memories of time spent with “Bush 41” when he honored us with visits to our campus, such as when he received the Medal of Freedom from the Tower Center for Political Studies, and when he proudly attended as one of five living presidents the 2013 dedication of his son’s George W. Bush Presidential Center. Our University has unique opportunities to share the lessons from a life well-lived. We intend to use them.” - R. Gerald Turner, SMU President
Information about President George H.W. Bush’s memorial: https://www.georgehwbush.com/.
In 1999 then Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Laura Bush, with President George H.W. Bush, attended the dedication of the Laura Bush Promenade at SMU, a garden and seating area outside Fondren Library. The promenade was a gift from President George W. Bush to honor Laura Bush’s contributions to libraries and literature. Mrs. Bush earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from SMU in 1968.
A historic moment: The dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center on April 25, 2013, at SMU brought together five presidents of the United States (from left): Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter.
Photo credit: Paul Morse for the George W. Bush Presidential Center