Several former Eastern students are returning to campus on Saturday to express their appreciation to Dr. Giles Henderson, a recently retired chemistry professor.

Each speaker will give a 30-minute presentation describing his current scientific work. The presentations begins at 12:30 p.m. in the Phipps Lecture Hall, Room 121 in the Physical Science Building.

Admission is free and open to the public.

One of the returning students is Todd McDermott, a 1989 graduate.

“He had a profound effect on me while I was a student at EIU,” McDermott said in a press release. “He was the best teacher that I had through college and graduate

school.”

“Dr. Henderson set a standard that will challenge me for years to come,” said Scott Martin, a 1987 graduate, in a press release.

Current department of chemistry chair Ellen Keiter and former chairs David Buchanan, David Ebdon and Sid Steele will introduce the speakers.

Henderson came to Eastern in 1966. During the 1970s, he took time off to complete his doctorate at Indiana University.

He was a five-time winner of the Faculty Excellence Award at Eastern, and he also was named Distinguished Professor in 1996.

Other speakers at the symposium will be Ryan Bailey, 1999; Lance Ballard, 1992; Roger Bumgarner, 1982; David Dolson, 1976; Matt Hayner, 1995; Bill Schinzer, 1978; and Dr. Ron Woods, 1986.

Bumgarner said, “(Henderson’s) work ethic and commitment are inspiring to observe, so much so that my first son was named Roger Giles.”

“No one could love teaching more than Giles Henderson,” Woods said in a press release. “He also taught me a few things about bluegill fishing and canoeing.”

One of Henderson’s colleagues, Richard Keiter, chemistry professor, best sums up his career.

“To the several hundred students who took his physical chemistry courses and to those who did research with him, he remains the ultimate professor,” Keiter said.