Eastern’s flag is solemnly hanging at half-staff in recognition of the recent death of former Gov. William G. Stratton, who presided over an era of immense growth for Eastern.

Stratton, who was governor for two terms between 1953 and 1961, died from natural causes at the age of 87 on Friday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

At Tuesday’s funeral for Stratton at the First United Methodist Church in Chicago, Gov. George Ryan and former Governors Jim Edgar and James Thompson were among the pallbearers.

Stratton has been credited for the development of the state’s expressway system, O’Hare International Airport, McCormick Place and the University of Illinois in Chicago.

During Stratton’s terms, he visited Eastern on several occasions, and on one of his visits, he dedicated five buildings and laid the cornerstone for a sixth building on Sept. 18, 1958.

Stratton, along with Quincy Doudna, Eastern’s president at the time, and a group of Illinois congressmen and senators, officially dedicated the University Union, Robert G. Buzzard Laboratory school, McKinney Hall, Ford Hall and Weller Hall.

In addition, Stratton personally laid the cornerstone for the Fine Arts center, which recently was recommended by Gov. Ryan for a $41 million expansion and renovation.

Stratton also made appearances in Charleston in 1958 for the reenactment of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and in 1960 for a political campaign stop.

An estimated 2,000 people were in attendance when Stratton landed his campaign helicopter on Eastern’s football field in October of 1960.

The Daily Eastern News reported that during the speech, Stratton said he felt educational opportunities must be made available to all those who need and want to take advantage of them.

Stratton said 104 new college and university buildings were constructed under his tenure, and that teacher salaries were increased 40 percent.

Stratton, who was born in Grundy County, graduated from the University of Arizona in 1934 with a degree in political science.

Stratton served two consecutive terms in the U.S. Congress, starting in 1940, and two terms as state treasurer.

Stratton is survived by his wife, Shirley, and his daughter, Nancy Stratton Taylor, of Chicago.