I write with sadness to report the passing of Egil "Bud" Krogh.  Bud died peacefully earlier this weekend after several years of health struggles.  His impact on The School for Ethics and Global Leadership is enormous and enduring.   

Bud is known to history for arranging the now-famous meeting between Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon (which Bud chronicled in The Day Elvis Met Nixon) and for co-directing Nixon's infamous "Plumbers" (which Bud reflected on in  Integrity: Good People, Bad Choices, and Life Lessons from the White House).

To generations of SEGL students and teachers, Bud is known as a mentor and master teacher.  Each term Bud shared unflinching, self-effacing, and riveting stories that highlighted his "Integrity Zone" ethical thinking model.  What internal and external "threats" kept him from making the best decisions in the White House?  What "threats" face each of our students as they step into positions of leadership?  In each of his sessions (the last several given from a wheelchair) he expressed responsibility for his past choices and filled the room with inclusive spirit.  His goal was simple: to help SEGL students avoid the kind of mistakes he had made.  

Over and over again, our students reported that he had achieved this goal.  They thanked him in end-of-semester "Credos" and post-graduation missives, and they named him the first winner of the SEGL "Golden Mug" (awarded annually to the guest speaker who has made the biggest positive impact on graduates' lives).

He made an impact outside his sessions as well.  He helped plan and launch new SEGL programs.  He met with students who had broken school rules.  Generations of students enjoyed his legendary cottage cheese pancakes.  And he was a special, significant mentor to me and many other SEGL teachers.  

For the past five years of his life, Bud was ailing.  That did not stop him from teaching at SEGL.  And it did not stop him from attending our 10th Anniversary Weekend in October, where he received a standing ovation from hundreds of community members.

He leaves behind a loving family, many friends and mentees, and his longtime partner Nancy Glenn Hansen, whom many of you know.  Nancy was particularly devoted to Bud in his final years, ensuring that his message resonated far and wide.

That message lives in our graduates and in our teachers.

In the coming weeks I will share more news about our plans to honor Bud at SEGL.  If you would like to assist in this effort, please let me know.

Sincerely,