The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

No loss for words

One of Mike Lawrence's favorite gifts is a ceramic baseball that he keeps on the shelf of his office. The words engraved on the ball reminds Lawrence that, "sometimes you just have to play hardball."

The message has allowed Lawrence to step up to the mound and deliver the appropriate pitches in two areas: politics and the media.

As both a press secretary and journalist, the occasional curve ball has helped him to gain respect and thrive in both professionals.

Last week, Lawrence was named director of the Public Policy Institute at SIUC. The center had been without an official director since the January death of former director and founder Paul Simon. Lawrence was interim director of the Institute for approximately six months while the University conducted a nationwide search to fill the position.

From his time volunteering at the local newspaper at the age of 11 to becoming an editor at the Quad City Times at the age of 29, journalism has always been an important part of Lawrence's life. And beginning with political discussions around the dinner table, politics have always been an interest that led to a career as the press secretary for former Gov. Jim Edgar.

"Whoever was going to be picked for the position was going to define the institute for the next few years, and I don't think there is anyone who could say he [Lawrence] wasn't a good person to fill this definition," said the Rev. Joseph Brown, director of the black American Studies program and a friend of Lawrence.

But long before Lawrence was named the head of the Institute, he was building relationships that have helped to build the career of a man co-workers "one of the most respected people in the state."

Lawrence started at the local paper at the age of 11 and received his first by-line by the age of 14. He continued to work periodically at his local paper during the summer, while working as an editor at both his high school and college publications.

"I made the decision when I was 11 that I could not be a professional athlete," Lawrence said. "I had a strong interest in sports and my teachers had always told me I was a good writer."

He spent a great deal of time writing sports stories, writing about more than 80 baseball games before deciding that he would enjoy these games "more as a fan and not a journalist or reporter."

But even after abandoning sports writing, Lawrence was never at a loss for words or a place to put them. Shortly after graduating from Knox College in 1964, Lawrence began working at the Quad City Times, then known as the Times Democrat.

Although satisfied with the work he did covering the city government, local and state government and legislature in Springfield, he still had a goal in mind. Lawrence wanted to be managing editor at his paper by the time he was 30.

"I became managing editor of both the morning and evening edition by the time I was 29, so I beat my goal. But I hated the job," Lawrence said. "It involved a lot more personnel work than I wanted and it also took me away from the frontlines."

Lawrence held the position for three years before taking on positions such as a weekly columnist and bureau chief for the Chicago Sun Times. Later on, he took the position he is best known for, press secretary for Gov. Jim Edgar.

"I was his first appointment after he became governor," Lawrence said. "But it's also important that you know this was mainly so I could write press releases for the other appointments."

During his time working with Edgar, between 1991 and 1997, Lawrence obtained a great deal of respect from several people in the state, especially Edgar.

"We used to kid that he was our 'moral check,'" Edgar said. "He would always hear what I had to say. Then he would softly say, 'Now how do you think that's going to sound on the front page of the Chicago Tribune.' He always brought me back to reality.

"He is probably one of the most respected people in the state, maybe not one of the most well-liked because there were some media out there that were afraid of him."

After having his fair share of journalism and politics, Lawrence informed Edgar on Thanksgiving that he would soon be giving him a departure date. He said he did not have a job in mind at the time, but believed, that it was time to move on.

Soon after, he received information about Paul Simon's intentions to form the Public Policy Institute. Through a friend, he informed Simon of his interest in the project.

Lawrence moved to SIUC in 1997 to assist with the Institute, which was not even a year old. He worked closely with Simon to establish the Institute, building both a close professional and personal friendship with Simon.

Because of this relationship, Simon expressed interest in making Lawrence his successor following his retirement. He said he never gave this scenario much thought, believing he would be the one to leave first.

"Paul surprised me," Lawrence said. "I was planning on waving goodbye to him in a few years. He just seemed so ageless."

After Simon's death in January, the University began the search for a new director for the Institute. Although upset by Simon's death, he knew he had to bring the center down the path that Simon had began.

"Once I got over the shock of his death, I just knew I had to do everything I could to continue with things the way he would have wanted them to be," he said

Lawrence continued in the position for several months, while dealing with the stress of being a candidate for the job he was currently performing. Because the last candidate for the position interviewed two months after him, but he continued to deal with the responsibilities of the position and the inquiries as to when the decision would be made.

In the short time after his appointment last week, Lawrence has set a clear plan for the Institute. Although he said he and Simon did not have the same views on every subject, he said they always respected each other's perspectives. Because, of this, he believes it will be easy to maintain an Institute that illustrates the vision Simon would have wanted.

"I want the institute to survive and thrive in fidelity with Paul Simon's vision for the Institute," Lawrence said. "I also hope to leave it in the condition where you can still tell that this is Paul Simon's Institute."

No matter how he goes about accomplishing this goal, people from all over University and across the state agree that he is the right man for the job.

Eric Robinson, who owns his own public relations company, first met Lawrence during his time in college as a writer for the Daily Illini.

"I think there are a number of things that stand out about him," Robinson said. "Number one being his exceptional talent. Number two that he holds things to the absolute highest integrity."

Lawrence knows many people believe his connection with Simon will assist him during his time as director. But he emphasizes that he does not plan to try to live up to the standards of the late senator, but instead, simply to do his best to maintain his vision for the Institute.

"If Paul walked in here, I would want him to recognize it as having the same visions and values as he did," Lawrence said.

 

 

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