Gov. James Thompson made an appointment to fill an NIU alumnus seat on the Board of Regents Friday, nearly three months after the position was created.

Thompson named former DeKalb mayor and legislator Joe Ebbesen to the new position, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

“Mr. Ebbesen has served the community and the region for a number of years,” NIU President John La Tourette said. “He attended NIU for three years and is regarded as one of our outstanding alumni. If confirmed, I know he will serve well in that capacity.”

Ebbesen, who served as mayor from 1965 to 1969, said he contacted Sen. Patrick Welch, D-Peru, about the position when it was signed into law.

“If it is confirmed by the Senate, I’d be very interested in serving in that capacity,” Ebbesen said.

“I’m delighted to hear that,” said J. Carroll Moody, an NIU member of the board’s Joint University Advisory Council. “He was certainly a strong friend to NIU and an advocate of its interest.”

Moody said he was surprised to hear Thompson made the appointment on the eve of last term.

Although Ebbesen might be confirmed and begin his term before an ISU alumnus is named to the Regents, leaving the board at 10 members. “There are very few votes on the board that come down to a split vote like that,” Moody said.

“He seems like a perfectly logical choice to me. Joe has been active for years in the legislature,” Nancy Beasley said. Beasley lost the senate race against Sen. Patrick Welch for the 38th District.

Beasley said Ebbesen sponsored one of the first bills to allow NIU a separate governing board. Ebbesen served 12 terms as State representative in what is now the 76th district until he resigned in March of 1984.

The addition of the seat stems from House Bill 2842 that Thompson signed Sept. 11, which adds two alumni to the Board of Regents.

The alumni seats for NIU and ISU, when filled, will bring the total number of voting members to 11.