The reports I wrote of the meetings were
actually turned over to the FBI and I was one of many that were interviewed in
the investigation that took place that resulted in Levine, Tony Rezko, Governor
Blagojevich, and others going to jail. In 2005 I was elected to the board
with the support of the IRTA, the IEA, and the IFT and I have subsequently been
reelected in 2009 and 2013. Earlier this summer I made the decision that
I would retire from the board at the end of this term. My only concern
was the uncertainty of what Governor Rauner might do with the three empty seats
on our board.
This
past Friday, though they were under considerable pressure from the governor’s office,
the four appointed members of the board, including Tony Smith, the State
Superintendent of Education, stood up and voted with the elected members of the
board to lower our assumed rate of return from 7.5% to 7%. This was the
right thing to do, but it is going to cost the state of Illinois more than $400
million dollars in additional state contributions to our pension fund.
That convinced me that we have strong and capable board and that I could
step down at the end of my term in the summer of 2017.
I
am proud of the role that I have played and that I have tried to serve not only
the annuitants to our system but the people of the state of Illinois to the
best of my ability. I am currently serving as the chair of the investment
committee and I can tell you that we continue to make money in what is a
difficult time for investments. I thank all of you that have supported me
and shown your confidence in my stewardship. I have enjoyed being on the
board, the board and staff of TRS are some of the best people that I have ever
known and they are doing an outstanding job for all of us. The checks
will keep coming.
Bob
Lyons
Thank you, Bob Lyons, for your integrity and dedication!
ReplyDeleteAll of us owe Bob Lyons the deepest appreciation for his strong and constant stewardship of the TRS program we have all come to rely on in our retirements – and for those who come later. It is an honor to have known him and his good work. Thank you, Bob.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bob, for your dedicated service. You have also been gracious enough to make the trip out to Grundy County to keep our retired teachers informed. We all deeply appreciate your years of service.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all you have done. I wish I could meet you face-to-face to show you my appreciation. The misunderstandings of what TRS did and does must have been a tremendous pressure for you.
ReplyDeleteI apologize for any that I may have been part of.
You will be missed.
Bob, You are the best trustee I have ever known on the TRS Board. And I served a few times myself! You are a man of integrity. And a great communicator. The teachers and retirees greatly benefited from your service. The time you gave to the system was immense and surely came at some personal sacrifice. Thank you again. Gary Elmen
ReplyDeleteYou will be missed, Mr. Lyons, sir!
ReplyDeleteYou have done us a great service by representing us as you have. My thanks.
ReplyDeleteLes Kent
Thank you for your service.
ReplyDelete