 Despite a rough start during the student unrest of the late 1960s and 1970s he was much loved by students and was commonly referred to as "Uncle Bill" or "Chan Dan".Chancellor Danforth maintained a clear presence during his entire tenure at Washington University and was frequently seen walking the grounds and talking with students.After retirement in 1995, as one of the longest serving chancellors in the country, he continues to be involved in the University, and has served as the Chair of the Board of Trustees and was named Chancellor Emeritus in 1999.