When Northern Illinois University President John Peters sees Eastern President Lou Hencken, he asks him how his herd of goats is doing.

The line is an ongoing joke that sprouted when Hencken said he was thinking of buying a herd of goats to cut the grass on campus to save money at the university.

This is one of many memories that are sure to be brought up in the coming year as the university prepares to find Eastern’s next president. Hencken plans to retire at the end of the school year.

“Lou Hencken is one of the finest higher education individuals that I have known,” said Peters. “He is the most student-centered president that I have met in American higher education.”

Peters said Hencken was one of the first presidents he met when he came to Illinois to assume his position in May 2000 and he has helped him understand a lot about Illinois higher education.

“He will leave that place a lot better than he found it, and he will be very difficult to replace,” Peters said. “He is Eastern Illinois University.”

Western Illinois University president Alvin Goldfarb said Hencken has made great improvements to Eastern during his presidency.

“There has been growth in the Eastern Illinois University student population, significant work on facilities, and the development of new academic and support programs. He has guided the university through very difficult budgetary times,” he said. “I would hope that EIU would find a president that will continue the progress made under President Hencken.”

Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said when Hencken retires from the presidency, the campus atmosphere will change.

“It will be very different for campus,” Lord said. “We’ll be losing a sense of history and a fixture on campus.”

Hencken and Lord assumed their official positions on the same day in 2001.

“I’ve had an extraordinary relationship with him,” Lord said. “We’ve been tightly joined in our respective positions since I’ve been here.”

Even though Hencken won’t be as visible on campus after he retires, he still plans to keep teaching.

“I don’t think you can devote 41 years of your life to a campus and not still be a part of it in some way,” Lord said.