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25 years ago
A change in leadership at BYU involving two future members of the Quorum of the Twelve was announced in early May 1980.
The May 10, 1980, Church News announced: "Dallin H. Oaks, president of Brigham Young University for the past nine years, will be released from his post this summer after selection of a successor, the BYU Board of Trustees announced May 7."
That successor, Jeffrey R. Holland, was named in the following week's Church News. An article in that issue said the change would occur on Aug. 1.
The May 10 article stated: "President Spencer W. Kimball, board chairman, said Pres. Oaks had written a confidential letter to the board more than two years ago suggesting that 'it is in the best interests of the university to have a policy of regular turnover in the office of president.'
"Pres. Oaks recommended that 'six to seven years is the optimum period of service for a university president.' He called attention to the fact that he had already completed that amount of service."
His predecessor, Ernest L. Wilkinson, served for 20 years as president, but the longest tenure was by Franklin S. Harris from 1921-1945. After Pres. Oaks, Pres. Holland served nine years, Pres. Rex E. Lee six years and Pres. Merrill J. Bateman eight years. Pres. Cecil O. Samuelson, the current president, began service in 2003.
