Former Gov. Jim Edgar remembered the first time he found his favorite room on Eastern’s campus.

He remembered the wood paneling inside the “most beautiful building on campus.” Booth Library.

He was in the fifth grade and was visiting the library while attending the laboratory school that is now known as Buzzard Hall.

Over 50 years later, the same room has been renamed the Edgar Reading Room, in honor of the alumnus’s contributions to the university and state.

President William Perry introduced Edgar during the renaming ceremony Monday night.

“The Edgars have supported the university in many ways,” Perry said. “It is my belief and desire that this room will bring students to careers of public service.”

Edgar said he spent about three days per week in the library, and he is honored for the recognition in the building.

“I was once told you can only be as good as the people around you,” Edgar said. “I was fortunate to have good people around me at a young age.”

Over 20 photos are located around the room from different points of Edgar’s life.

A copy of Edgar’s platform for the student body president seat is also displayed.

All of the photos brought back memories for Edgar, especially the one of his mother, Betty Edgar, who was at clerk at Eastern.

“This university meant a lot to her as well,” Edgar said.

While both attended Eastern, the former governor’s wife, Brenda Edgar, said Jim Edgar probably spent more time in the library than she did.

Jim Edgar and Brenda Edgar, then Brenda Smith, dated while attending Eastern and were together when Jim Edgar ran for the student body president seat.

“I went and knocked on all of the doors in Pemberton Hall to remind people to vote,” Brenda Edgar said. “We were right below (the Edgar Reading Room) when the election results came in and he had won the spot.”

When Brenda Edgar returned to her room in Pemberton Hall, a sign was posted on her door that read, “First Lady of Eastern Illinois University.”

“Who would have thought I had been knocking on doors for him all these years later,” Brenda Edgar said.

Jim Edgar said Eastern has always meant a lot to him.

“I don’t think I would have been governor if I didn’t go to Eastern,” Jim Edgar said.

“Here I was able to be elected as student body president, which I don’t think I could have done at bigger universities.”

The room will be used for speakers, discussions and to think about how they can serve this country and this state, Jim Edgar said.

A replication of Edgar’s governor portrait hangs on the north wall of the room and the university gave the Edgar’s one as well.

Kayleigh Zyskowski can be reached at 581-7942 or

[email protected].