Skorton a great hire for Smithsonian position

I was delighted to read the news that David Skorton, my former boss and president of Cornell University, will head the Smithsonian Institution. He's brilliant, instinctively knows how to treat every person and every situation to achieve a positive result, respects everyone, has a great sense of humor and is one of the most caring people I've ever met.

He once gave me a difficult assignment and was impressed by my approach and the results. He felt that I deserved a bonus.

He immediately went over to President Mary Sue Coleman's office to ask her for the money. She said no. He came back, took the money out of his salary and gave it to me. It's no wonder that he's enjoyed great employee loyalty no matter where he's worked.

A friend sent me an email commenting on David's appointment. Here is an excerpt: “Special mention (needs to be made regarding) the Iowa Board of Regents who pushed Skorton out of his job as president of the University of Iowa. A job he earned by being incredibly competent. Small-minded and self-interested, the Iowa Regents punished Skorton for acting in the best interest of the university. They showed him! First president of Cornell, then the Smithsonian. Iowa Regents should

be exposed for their

incompetence.”

I'll have to agree with those sentiments.

Lawrence Rettig

South Amana