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The Distinguished Service Award, given to members of the Miami University faculty or staff who have made a significant impact on the life and mission of the university, has been awarded to John "Jack" Keegan, greenhouse manager and instructor in botany, and Robert C. Johnson, professor emeritus of English.
Keegan, who has been at Miami for 30 years, provides flowers and plants from the greenhouse for campus events. As a nominator wrote, "In most cases, Jack stays to help decorate and takes great care in doing so rather than simply making sure that the flowers are delivered - and he rarely allows even the smallest event to be handled solely by his staff."
The greenhouses also are the location each year of an All-American Selections display garden, featuring new annual flower and vegetable plants tested for home garden performance at independent sites. A certified wine educator, Keegan teaches popular courses on wine, is active in fundraising for the development office and the performing arts series and has been a member of the Miami University Men's Glee Club for three decades.
Johnson has served the university in numerous capacities, including as dean of the Graduate School and as acting provost and chair of the English department, the university admissions committee, the athletic policy committee and the faculty rights and responsibilities committee.
"Bob's leadership is characterized by hard work, intelligence, candor, integrity and - above all - decency. ... You always know where you stand. ... And because you are treated with unfailing courtesy and respect, and because you know of Bob's fundamental decency, as well as his loyalty to Miami University, you honor his decision," wrote one of his nominators.
Johnson was a member of Miami's faculty for 42 years, retiring in 2006.
The Distinguished Service Award, created by University Senate in 2006, is the most significant recognition that Miami has to offer for service to the university.
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