Fall 2011
PROMENADE THE GEORGE PEPPERDINE COLLEGE NEWSLETTER
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In This Issue 1 8 10 2 10 3 Save the Date Year! Pepperdine’s 75th Anniversary
GPC Student Body Presidents - Where Are They Now?
An exciting preview to a yearlong milestone celebration of all things Pepperdine
A conversation with Dr. Ronald D. Stephens (’67)
The Golden Circle
Announcing the latest alumni to join a very special group
From Pepperdine to the Presbytery
Reverend Betty (Kurtz) Hamilton (’52) recalls her pioneering path to becoming a Presbyterian minister
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Harris Ives, to China, the Long Way
One alumnus’ intriguing journey to find himself by teaching around the globe
Hymnal Heist
The story of an innocent but effective GPC prank resurfaces after over 40 years
The Alums of GPC
A poem, written by Lorraine (Hill) Brinton (’60), to her fellow GPC alumni everywhere
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What Pepperdine Means to Me
Mrs. Jessie La Franboise (’43) relives memories from days as a GPC home economics student
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Honoring the Matriarch of a GPC Legacy Family
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Oly Tegner Award
Recognize a fellow alumnus as the quintessential Wave...a purposeful servant leader
In Memoriam
Rembering the lives of fellow alumni recently passed.
Upcoming Events
A look ahead at opportunities for alumni to stay connected to Pepperdine.
The debut of a new column granting special passage into the treasures of the Pepperdine Archives
We want to hear from you! The Promenade newsletter needs your stories! If you are an alumnus of George Pepperdine College, please submit articles about your personal memories of days at the original campus at 79th and Vermont. We are also interested in hearing the interesting stories of your activities since graduation. Share these precious memories with your fellow alumni by sending your story of anywhere between 300 and 1,500 words to the GPC Alumni Affairs office at the following address: By mail: By e-mail: GPC Alumni Affairs gpc@pepperdine.edu c/o: Promenade Newsletter, TAC 311 24255 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90263-4348
SC = Seaver College GSBM = Graziadio School of Business and Management SOL = School of Law GSEP = Graduate School of Education and Psychology SPP = School of Public Policy
Please also send along any photos you have to compliment your story. We will gladly scan the photos and mail the originals back to you upon completion of the publication.
Promenade Staff Editor • Matt Ebeling (’99) Graphic Designer • Matt Mosher Cover Designer • Gayle Wheatley (’00) Production Manager • Jill McWilliams Copy Editor • Vincent Way
Pepperdine’s 75th Anniversary By Laura Fehlbaum (’10)
J. A. “Jim” Dilbeck (’67) pauses to reflect on three generations of Pepperdine grads
From the Archives
ARTICLE LEGEND
Save the Date Year!
Steering Committee • Jon Washington (’63), Bob Andrew (’58), Norma (Wade) Young-Mahaffey (’61) Contributing Writers • Billie W. (Wesley) Silvey (‘67), Rev. Betty (Kurtz) Hamilton (‘52), Melissa Nykanen, Lorraine (Hill) Brinton (’60), Jon Washington (’63), Dean Zook (’68), J. A. “Jim” Dilbeck (‘67), Matt Ebeling (’99), Jessie (Halley) La Franboise (‘43)
Pepperdine is about to embark upon a yearlong celebration 75 years in the making—and we want you to join us! From Waves Weekend 2011, to the Associates Dinner, to Founder’s Day 2012, we are celebrating our heritage, humanity, and excellence by engaging the community and showcasing the University’s accomplishments and aspirations. Since you are a vital part of our rich history, your presence and involvement as a George Pepperdine College alumnus are important. We hope you can make plans to attend many, if not all, of the festivities!
da was the unveiling of the Headlines of History artifact exhibit in the rotunda of the Thornton Administrative Center, featuring headlines from Pepperdine publications, archival photographs, and collected mementos from years past. Headlines of History is on display now through the coming year.
The 75th anniversary will do much more than trace our timeline. We will honor Pepperdine’s founder, people, mission, and heritage. Special events will allow us to build community and affinity among alumni, current students, faculty, staff, and friends. President Benton and other University leaders will share aspirations for the next quarter century. And finally, this celebration will help us enhance the University’s visibility and stature in the wider community.
Even if you were not able to attend the big kick-off, however, there are many ways to take the celebration home with you! Commemorative art pieces and a commemorative book are being created for this milestone year in the University’s history. A Portrait of Pepperdine will chronicle the life and progress of the University from a unique perspective and is sure to fly off the shelves. The book will be released in February 2012, but you may prepurchase at 20 percent off the cover price by visiting www.pepperdine.edu/portrait. By ordering now, you will also be listed inside the book as a sponsor—what a great opportunity!
The 75th anniversary kicked off at Waves Weekend October 1416, 2011, where GPC alumni enjoyed a variety of activities tailored just for them, such as the Sweethearts Brunch dedicated to recognizing and celebrating our married Pepperdine alumni couples, a special open house gathering hosted by Mrs. Helen Young (’39) in her home, and a GPC alumni panel discussion hosted by the Pepperdine University Archives. Also on the agen-
Waves Weekend concluded as hundreds of alumni and their families enjoyed the Saturday evening festival and concert in Alumni Park featuring Colbie Caillat.
We hope that this preview offers a glimpse of how spectacular the yearlong celebration will be! For more information on upcoming events and to register, please visit www.pepperdine.edu/75th. With more specific questions, please e-mail us at anniversary@ pepperdine.edu. We hope to see you soon! †
On the Cover The Pepperdine College Library Opened to students in the summer of 1939. Administration Building Under Construction The Administration Building was under construction in the summer of 1937. Dedication Day crowd A crowd of approximately 2,000 gathered in front of the Administration Building for the dedication of the new school.
Student Life Two students play baseball on the lawn in front of the Academic Life Building on the Pepperdine College campus around 1970.
May Day Students and administrators gather for a May Day celebration in front of the president’s home.
George Pepperdine Speaking at Dedication Pepperdine College founder George Pepperdine speaks at the dedication of the college on September 21, 1937.
Baxter Hall Students socialize in front of Baxter Hall, the men’s dormitory, which was named for President Batsell Baxter.
Students in Dining Hall Students enjoy camaraderie in the dining hall, one of the first four buildings to be constructed on the campus.
Home Economics Class Students work in a home economics class.
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The
From
Golden Circle
By Reverend Betty (Kurtz) Hamilton (‘52)
By Matt Ebeling (’99)
As we approach Pepperdine’s 75th-anniversary milestone, now seems a fitting time to look back and honor those alumni who have reached a special milestone of their own this year. Specifically, I am referring to those who are celebrating 50 years of being a Pepperdine alumnus. These alumni—many of whom are our most spirited—have earned their place in what is known as the “Golden Circle.”
Join me in recognizing this year’s Golden Circle inductees from the Class of 1961. Mr. Tom Abrahamsen Mr. Denny Aria Dr. Albert Arnold Mrs. Carole (Lotz) Arnold Mr. Donald Aston Mr. Robert Barker Dr. Brent Bradberry Mrs. Mary (Underwood) Bragg Mrs. Ellen (Boros) Brandt Mrs. Eleanor Brockmeier Ms. Elizabeth Calian Mr. Talmage Campbell Mr. Richard Cantrell Mr. Nick Carra Mr. Edward Chan Mr. Dudley Cobb Mr. Harlan Coker Mr. Alan Cushman Ms. Beverly (Rush) Daugherty Mr. Dwayne DeSpain Ms. Anita (Grubenhoff ) Dolbeck Dr. Randolph Dreier Mrs. Leona (Livings) Drozda Mrs. Dianne (Hard) Emery Mrs. Llona (Elford) Fennel Mrs. Bonnie (Bohannan) Figgins Mr. Carl Fleming Mr. F. Verne Flock
Mrs. Patricia (McDonald) Fountain Mr. Ronald Griffith Mr. Patrick Hale Mrs. Robyn (Winn) Hall Colonel David Hancock Mrs. Weinonnae (Wilder) Harris Mr. Bryce Jessup Mr. Charles Johnson Mr. Jerry Jordan Mr. James Judd Mrs. Carol (Butler) Kasser Mr. Ronald Keppler Mrs. LaVerl (Giltsch) King Mrs. Sandra (Nightingale) Koivisto Mr. Clifford Kreutz Mrs. Arlene (Barnhart) Leedy Mrs. Patricia Lutzenburg Ms. Cherryl Lyons Mr. Sebastian Manuele Mr. Ronald Mason Mr. Darrell Mathews Dr. James Maxwell Mrs. Eleanor (Gutierrez) McClintock Mr. William McClure Ms. Patricia McDonald Mr. Donald Morris Mr. Jack Nakanishi Mr. Forrest Newman
Pepperdine to the Presbytery
Mr. Eugene Parker Mr. George Perryman Mr. Charles Powell Mr. Robert Pratt Mr. Norman Reid Dr. Clark Rex Mr. David Rice Ms. Joan (Elmes) Ririe Mr. David Roberts Mr. Neftali Sanchez Mr. John Schlatter Mr. Gordon Schott Mrs. Bernell (Smith) Scott Mrs. Sue (Di Jerlando) Scott Mr. Lee Shimmin Mr. Don Smith Mr. Thomas Smith Dr. Ted Starnes Ms. Roberta Thompson Mr. Dale Townsend Mr. Robert Underwood Mr. Charles Watson Ms. Irby Webb Mr. Herman Whitfield Ms. Betty Willey Dr. R. Wood Mr. Vincent Yan Ms. June Yoshimi
Congratulations to you all! A complete listing of all Golden Circle members can be found at seaver.pepperdine.edu/alumni/goldencircle. †
I was in junior high school, living in Nashville, Tennessee, when a student from George Pepperdine College arrived home for the summer. I was impressed with this student, and later my family moved to Los Angeles and I spied the college. I knew I wanted to go there when I graduated from high school. My days at Pepperdine were all I had hoped for. The size of the campus and classes were just right for me. I started as an art major but soon changed to education-psychology and prepared to be a teacher, my lifelong love. The 79th Street school was our training place, and a good one at that. I was well prepared to start my teaching career. After my first year as a third-grade teacher, I left to study at Princeton Seminary in New Jersey, following other friends I had met at Pepperdine. During my four years at Pepperdine, I was part of a sorority: Iota Chi. Not only were the classes wonderful but also the people I met. We frequently visited at the Oasis or on the Promenade. I commuted from home, although I did live in the dorm for one semester. At Princeton, I met my future husband, an ordained Presbyterian minister. We had three daughters together while serving parishes in San Diego, South Pasadena, and Larkspur, California. Later, I returned to seminary and became an ordained Presbyterian minister along with a very small percentage of women in 1977. I served in many different states so
I could be “seen” as a woman minister. Many women have followed, and now there are a large number serving as such. Later, I returned to teaching in the inner city of Richmond, California, where I taught for 10 years before retiring. During that time, I performed many weddings for people all over the Bay Area who were happy to have a woman clergyperson. I was also part of a writing project of women in the Presbyterian ministry. The resulting book was titled Voices of Experience: Lifestories of Clergywomen in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). I later wrote my memoir, Traveler, There Is No Road: The Way is Made by Walking. While being somewhat of a pioneer, my church now has many women serving as ministers. I retired and moved to Sonoma, California, to be near my only grandchild. I continued to substitute teach in Marin County and Sonoma until 2007. I was grateful for my days at Pepperdine and the training I received to be a teacher. †
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Harris Ives—
To China
When Harris Ives (’71) was in second grade, he tried to dig a hole to China. “When you are a man, you will get to China,” his father told him. His father was a pharmacist, and his mother taught French, English, and social work. Their lives had revolved around the two black universities in New Orleans, Louisiana: Xavier and Dillard. The first leg of the journey— Los Angeles The Ives family came to Los AnDigging a hole to China. Illustration geles as part of a mass migration from Good Times. of university-trained blacks from New Orleans in 1960. A good Catholic, Harris had applied to Loyola, but his application was misplaced until after Pepperdine had accepted him. He arrived on campus in 1969— the day Larry Kimmons, a young black man from the neighborhood, was shot by a security guard. Harris’ father heard the news and rushed to campus in time to see a body disappear into the back of an ambulance. He hurried home. “What kind of shoes was Harris wearing?” he asked. Harris overheard from his bedroom and came out to see what was going on— much to his father’s relief.
—The Long Way
By Billie Silvey (’67)
Other faculty members who made an impression were James Smythe, E. V. Pullias, Herman Wilson, and Grover Goyne. Harris later published a series of articles in academic journals including: Earl V. Pullias—Teaching as a Priestly Profession; and James Smythe—Product and Advocate of Christian Education. They were later collected and bound for the University library. Harris was baptized at the Vermont Avenue Church on the Los Angeles campus on March 10, 1972. Out of respect for his parents, he asked Wilson to baptize him in a quiet ceremony. “I don’t want to become a religious fanatic or anything; I am not interested in becoming a preacher,” he said. “I just want to be baptized.” When he walked into the church building, Wilson was waiting with about 50 other people. “Coming out of the waters of baptism, I felt elated. I began preaching immediately, with engagements in a variety of groups— Church of Christ, Congregational, Baptist, and Independent. To this day, I celebrate a wider brotherhood. I am comfortable amidst any religious people,” Harris explains. After serving as a graduate assistant in the English department on the Los Angeles campus, Harris taught fulltime from 1973 to 1979, becoming the first African American to teach on the Malibu campus. He taught English for Foreign Students, the Short Story, and a class of his own design titled the Bible’s Influence on Black Literature.
On the Malibu campus, he met a young woman he’d once talked with in the bookstore in Los Angeles. Eloise Brown (’71) worked as an assistant to Dr. Calvin Bowers. “You and Eloise should When he signed up for Old and Harris and Eloise relax at Omika retreat. team-teach a class,” Smythe told him. New Testament survey classes, he chose James Eugene Priest as teacher, sight unseen. He liked his “You can do African American literature and she could teach name. “Priest turned out to have just the approach that appealed African American history on different days.” to me. He was a calm, meticulous scholar.” From 1972 to 1980, Harris preached occasionally for the VerHarris bought a large-print King James Bible at Fedco. “Many mont Avenue Church of Christ on Pepperdine’s old campus. For students apparently had studied Bible all their lives and exhib- a time in the ’70s, he served as interim preacher for the largely ited a lack of enthusiasm for the classes, but it was all new to me, Japanese American Westside Church of Christ. and I was completely enthralled. It was ‘story’ after all, and it was in the same language as Shakespeare.” He memorized large sec- The second leg of the journey—Japan tions of the text, not because they were required, but because he In the late 60s and early 70s, several Pepperdine professors, found it “sublime poetry.” including Michio Nagai and Herman Wilson, taught summer
seminars at Ibaraki Christian College in Japan. Wilson particularly endeared himself to the university and was asked to return permanently when he retired. The school had marked the date on their calendar, but when the time came, Wilson had to decline because of his wife’s health. “I cannot keep that commitment, but I will send you a man of like mind,” he said. He called Harris around 9 p.m. on a rainy night. “I would like you to move to Japan in my place,” he said. Harris finished the term at Malibu and began teaching in Japan in April of 1980. During his first week in the little town of Omika, where the college was located, he walked down little alleyways, absorbing the intimate atmosphere of little houses. A group of boys approached, pushing a smaller guy to the front and laughing. The boy approached slowly and respectfully. “Hello,” he said, exhausting his words in English. Harris knelt down to his eye level. “Hello,” he said, thinking that this kid would go far. He had a desire to encounter another culture. He knew it was serious, and he knew being different was nothing to laugh at. Harris had the usual problems foreigners encounter. He couldn’t speak the language and had to depend on translators. He was stared at. Being an African American, he was a special novelty. He would be eating soup alone in a family-style restaurant when people would walk up to him. “Hello, where are you from?” they would say. In December of 1980 Eloise visited during her Christmas break as principal at Normandie Christian School, staying at the home of Joe and Ruth Betts, missionaries on campus. While she was in Japan, Harris would pick her up at breakfast and they would tour the area by commuter train, returning her to the Betts’ home around dinnertime. They married at the American Embassy in Tokyo, and she returned to Normandie Christian to finish the year before moving to Japan.
Caricature of Harris Ives by artist Hiroko Sakai from commemorative book on pioneer missionary Elizabeth McCaleb.
In 1982 their son Tyson was born, probably the first African American baby born in Hitachi Hospital. When he took them home from the hospital,
Teaching creative writing to retirees.
Harris was surrounded by nurses wanting to say goodbye. Concerned about germs, he held Tyson up as the women followed them to the car. Two years later, the scene was repeated when their daughter Amy was born. Since their children attended public schools, Harris and Eloise became more involved with the community. In 1986 Harris was appointed to teach part-time at Ibaraki Prefectural University. He has continued teaching there and at Ibaraki Christian until the present. Not long after arriving in Japan, he was approached by Koichi Seya, a renowned educator. “After hearing me lecture on the poetry of Emily Dickinson,” Harris explains, “he asked me to write. I assumed that he wanted more material on Dickinson.” Seya replied: “No, not Dickinson, Japanese scholars are familiar with her. What we don’t know about is Harris Ives and African Americans.” Seya encouraged him to capitalize on his novelty as an African American professor in a Japanese university. “I wrote over a dozen little autobiographical books in a short time,” Harris explained. “Seya wrote the footnotes and translated each one.” The Secret of Lilac Evans, a novel written in English for Japanese high school students, was published in 1986. Two volumes of nostalgic autobiographical essays, Good Times (1987) and Memories of American Holidays (1988), were followed by various supplemental English readers for Japanese junior high students. The final leg—China at last In 1999 Ibaraki Christian appointed Harris to speak at a seminar at Tianjin Normal University in China. He opened that speech with a reference to the story of digging the hole. Since that time, he has made annual visits to lecture on American and British Literature, often twice a year. In addition to teaching in Japan, China, and Cambodia, Harris has attended conferences and visited the great museums of England and Europe. The little boy’s dream of digging to China has blossomed into a lifetime of teaching and sharing with cultures around the world. †
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From the
Dear GPC Alumni,
Archives
the people who are here now are to have a hand” (Graphic, October 20, 1937). The first Graphic appeared on October 20th. Throughout those first months of publication, it seemed that the newspaper had a major announcement to share every week. First, it was announced that the women’s dormitory would be named Marilyn Hall, for George and Helen Pepperdine’s daughter. The men’s dormitory would be Baxter Hall, in honor of the college’s first and well-loved president, Batsell Baxter.
Welcome to the Promenade’s new column, “From the Archives”! We look forward to providing you with highlights and updates from the Pepperdine University Archives on a consistent basis. But first, here’s an introduction to our department. Who are we? The Pepperdine University Archives are located within the department of Special Collections and University Archives in Payson Library on the Malibu campus. My name is Melissa Nykanen, and I am the head of special collections and university archives. I have worked at Pepperdine for two years, and I learn more every day about Pepperdine’s vibrant history. My role here is to manage all of our rare books and archival materials. The choice of “Waves” as the new mascot was announced early in the year.
This fall, the department welcomes a new employee, Katie Richardson. Katie will be the archivist for special collections and university archives, and her job will focus on collecting, arranging, and describing our materials. The Pepperdine University Archives also receives support from the digital initiatives team at Pepperdine University Libraries. Kevin Miller is the digital collections coordinator, and one of his roles is to oversee the scanning and online presentation of Pepperdine’s historic materials. What do we have? The Department of University Archives houses Pepperdine photographs, yearbooks, student newspapers, event programs and flyers, course catalogs, and memorabilia. By collecting these materials, our goal is to serve as the institutional memory of the University and to preserve essential documentation about the school’s history. We hope to support alumni efforts by gathering materials that represent Pepperdine’s past and the many students who have become a part of our community, and by making these materials available to you, the alumni, and to anyone else who needs them. If you want to see anything or if we can help you answer a question about Pepperdine’s history, just let us know! What’s online? We are currently scanning archival materials and putting them online. Our newest addition to the Pepperdine digital collections is the full set of yearbooks—you can now browse or search your old yearbooks virtually! To find the yearbooks, simply go to the library’s home page, which is ibrary.pepperdine. edu. Once there, click on Pepperdine Digital Collections and you will see a link to the yearbooks.
The menu for Pepperdine’s first Thanksgiving meal introduced the school colors, approved earlier that week, and included a blend of California and Southern dishes.
Also in the Pepperdine digital collections are historic photographs dating back to the founding of Pepperdine in 1937. There are currently over 6,000 Pepperdine photographs online, and we add more every day. How can you help us? Although we have a lot of great materials from Pepperdine’s history, there are some things we don’t have, and we are always happy to have your help in gathering them. In particular we are missing some of the Graphic student newspaper issues from 1967 to 1972. We also love scrapbooks and memorabilia, such as athletic uniforms, pennants, old ticket stubs, and event programs. If you have anything that you think we might want or need, please let us know. Your donations help us capture and share Pepperdine’s heritage. We’re excited to highlight some of the materials from the Pepperdine University Archives in this and future issues of the Promenade! For this first column, we want to take it back to the very beginning—Pepperdine’s first year in 19371938. Go Waves!
Students worked hard to capture the events of Pepperdine’s first year in the new student newspaper, which was up and running just one month after the start of school.
Melissa Nykanen Head of Special Collections and University Archives Pepperdine University Archives (310) 506-4434 melissa.nykanen@pepperdine.edu
The first four graduates of George Pepperdine College were Paul M. Tucker, Carmen Landrum, Richard Gibson, and Malcolm Poe Hinckley.
The dedication of Pepperdine College, reported here in the school’s first issue of its student newspaper, drew a crowd of approximately 2,000 and featured speeches by founder George Pepperdine, the Los Angeles Mayor, and the California Governor. Pepperdine: Year One It’s hard to imagine how exciting it must have been for the students, faculty, and administrators who were a part of the first year of George Pepperdine College in 1937 and 1938. Many of the traditions established that year laid the foundation for the school’s future. Newspapers, event programs, brochures, and photographs that are housed in the Department of University Archives help paint a picture of the first year of George Pepperdine College. George Pepperdine College held its dedication ceremony on September 21, 1937, just four months after the Los Angeles Times announced that construction had begun. The first student body included approximately 160 students who came from 18 states and Canada. As students got to know each other, there were reports of good-natured “discussion” between Californians and out-of-state students about the California weather, and between Southerners and Westerners about respective accents.
On November 24, the Graphic announced that blue and orange would be the new school’s colors. The students approved these colors with enthusiasm, and the Waves spirit was born. The first Thanksgiving dinner, arranged shortly after this announcement, made use of the new school colors in the décor.
Throughout the year, students were busy at work forming student governance and social groups across all interest areas, building the foundation for future programs. New clubs included the Marilyn Hall social clubs, the Timothy club, the Cap ’n’ Bells dramatic club, the Brush and Palette Guild, and the library and press clubs. In November, student officers were elected. Athletics were in full swing before long as well, with basketball, track, tennis, and softball leading the way. Soon after the track members won medals and a trophy at their first meet at the Long Beach Relays in March, the freshmen voted to purchase the school’s first trophy case. As the first school year wrapped up, Pepperdine received full accreditation from the Northwest Association. This was a significant accomplishment for a school that had only opened seven months prior, and was a sign of the academic prestige that has been associated with Pepperdine ever since. The first graduation took place on June 10, 1938 on the president’s lawn.
While waiting for the construction of the dormitories to be completed in October, the students stayed in the nearby William Penn Hotel. After moving on campus, the boys experienced several days without hot water in their dormitories. Until the library was built, a room in the administration building housed the stacks and books were processed in the basement of the president’s home.
Year one for Pepperdine had been a full year and set the tone for a bright future. A strong sense of community and a commitment to academic standards and Christian education are hallmarks of the institution and a tribute to that first group of students, faculty, and administrators who worked hard to establish a thriving school for the future.
Despite some of the challenges associated with being the first students at a college that had just opened and was still under construction, the students perceived that they were part of something significant. In the first issue of the student newspaper, a student wrote, “Here is a college that is only beginning to be built. Here is a college without the usual college traditions, without the long history, without many of the do’s and don’ts already laid down. In shaping all of these things
As a student wrote in an early issue of the Graphic, “Honestly though, what could be more fun than being a pioneer at Pepperdine? There’s not only the thrill of living in brand-new modernistic dormitories, but there is so much pleasure in witnessing the beginning and participating in the formation of all campus organizations and activities. Then there is opportunity to observe developments in the growth of the institution. Charter members are definitely fortunate.” †
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GPC Student Body Presidents –
Where are they NOW?
A Conversation with Dr. Ronald D. Stephens (’67, MBA ’69) By Jon Washington (’63)
In each issue of the Promenade newsletter, we enjoy looking back at the stories of our former GPC student body presidents and seeing what they have been up to since their departure from 79th and Vermont. I caught up with Dr. Ron Stephens (’67, MBA ’69) about his 1966-1967 presidency and beyond. Being president must have been an incredible experience. Did it influence the paths you took over the course of life after college? Not only was it an honor to serve as student body president, but it also set up a series of opportunities and connections that have had a lasting impact upon my life. I have come to realize that my relationship with Pepperdine began before I was born. My opportunity to come to Pepperdine College was shaped by my father, Jesse W. Stephens—a minister of the Gospel, even before he was married. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Dad was preaching his Sunday morning sermon on KGMB Radio in Honolulu, Hawaii, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Shortly after that event all civilians were evacuated from Hawaii and returned to the United States. Dad settled in California where he was a frequent visitor to the campus of Pepperdine College including the Pepperdine Bible Lectureships in the early 40s. During the course of his 50-year ministry my father and mother became friends of Helen and Norvel Young, who recruited me to come to Pepperdine while we were together at the Yosemite Bible Encampment in the early 60s. Little did I know what great opportunities would await. I met my wife of 42 years, Kathleen Warford, at Pepperdine. What was your campaign emphasis, and who did you defeat? I served as student body president in 1966 during the third trimester and was reelected for the fall term for the 1966-67 school year. Emily (Young) Lemley (’67) served as secretary. The first term elections were very political. My opponent was Sam Loh (’66)— a very funny and talented individual. He had the students rolling in the aisles during his speech. He promised everything. When I came to the podium, I took a bit of a risk.
After complimenting my opponent, I stated that “he has spoken to you straight from the shoulder; I hope that you will feel my comments have come from a little higher up.” From that moment, the crowd loved it and I went on to win the election, as well as the election for the following term. The campaign emphasis was on creating a strong student activities program and providing a greater voice for students to the administration. What were the toughest issues you had to deal with as president? Pepperdine University was in a period of transition when I arrived. The very first year, we had the Watts Riots. All students were evacuated during that period of time and the campus was used as the National Guard headquarters to respond to the violence. Students were concerned about their safety and about having some great student activities. Our team worked closely with Dr. Jennings Davis, Jr., and Dr. Lucille Todd to create an environment that supported positive activities and the well-being of all students. Were there any particular campus jobs, projects, or experiences that stood out to you? In 1966 several classmates and I started a music group called the “Singin’ Trav’lers.” We performed throughout California and sang at such places as Disneyland and the Hollywood Palladium, and we competed at Knott’s Berry Farm where we were recognized for having the best folk singing group in Southern California. It was a blast! Paul King, director of admissions, adopted our group to help him recruit students for Pepperdine University. In 1967 we cut our first record album to finance our tour of sixteen western states as far east as Missouri. The memories were rich and the experiences were wonderful. We were welcomed every place we traveled. Our association with Pepperdine College and the college›s relationship to the Churches of Christ was a vivid reminder of the rich heritage we shared through George Pepperdine›s vision of the University and his example that we should give something back through our lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Although we played folk songs with instruments, we would always lay the instruments down during the program and sing a series of sacred hymns, even in the public schools. The Singin’ Trav’lers was the precursor of Pepperdine’s current music group “Won by One.” What about your life since Pepperdine? Pepperdine University has always been a special place for me. After graduating with a BS degree in business administration in 1967 followed by an MBA degree in 1969, Donald Sime (’49, MA ’51) asked me to teach in the newly formed Graduate School of Business and Management. This did not last long because four
months into my teaching contract I was drafted into the U.S. Army and shipped to Vietnam. Michael Sanders (’68, MS ’03), a Pepperdine classmate who preceded me to Vietnam, through the providence of God, paved the way for me to work with the commanding general. Mike and I were able to share the same “hooch.” Dr. Stephen Davis from the Natural Science Division was also stationed in Vietnam during this same time. We were blessed to attend church together in that war zone and then later enjoy the discovery that we had each been invited to come and serve as colleagues at Pepperdine University. While in Vietnam, another Pepperdine professor, Dr. Rex Johnston had just been appointed president of Columbia Christian College. Dr. Johnston asked me to come to Portland, Oregon, and serve as business manager of the K-12 school and college. I accepted the job sight unseen. While at Columbia Christian College, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. J. P. Sanders, who served as vice president of the college and who formerly held the role of dean of Pepperdine College for many years. Also working at Columbia Christian College was E. W. McMillan, a close friend of Norvel and Helen Young and great leader of the church. Everywhere I went, it seemed, I was touched and blessed by a series of Pepperdine relationships. After three years at Columbia Christian College, in 1974 Dr. William Banowsky invited me to return to Pepperdine College as director of business services with responsibilities over all auxiliary enterprises including bookstores, food services, risk management, campus maintenance, and security on both the Los Angeles and Malibu campuses as well as a variety of other staff support responsibilities. Three years later, at age 30, I experienced my mid-life crisis. I left the University to start a construction company in the Northwest with my good friend Rick Lane. After two winters in the freezing cold, I had the opportunity to contemplate where my career was headed. I was delighted when Dr. Howard White, the successor to President Banowsky, invited me to return to Pepperdine University as vice president for administration. It was great to be back at the University and to have the opportunity to attend the University of Southern California where I was once again blessed by Pepperdine people. Dr. E. V. Pullias, former Dean of Pepperdine College in the college’s early years, was my major professor. Dr. D. Loyd Nelson, a distinguished faculty member at USC and a member of Pepperdine University›s Board of Regents, introduced me to USC. My life has been continually blessed by and through Pepperdine people. In 1983 I returned to the classroom, teaching again with the Graduate School of Business and Management. In 1984 President Davenport asked if I would take on a new assignment as executive director of the National School Safety Center. The University landed its first federal grant to work with schools and communities throughout the United States to help them create safe and peaceful schools. Ronald Reagan, by presidential mandate, established
Pepperdine University’s National School Safety Center in 1984. For the next 15 years the University received nearly $17 million in subsequent grants to further this work followed by an additional $10 million in recent years. During this 26-year period, I have enjoyed opportunities of speaking at more than 1,500 conferences and programs worldwide and working with more than 1,000 public school districts throughout the United States and around the world. The school safety experience has provided me with a unique opportunity to work closely with the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education and to work with every major media outlet in the United States. At the conclusion of those grants, I returned to the classroom to teach in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, were I currently serve as professor of education. It has been an incredible and rewarding journey with Pepperdine University, maintaining a very special place in my heart. Your family has quite the Pepperdine legacy story, does it not? Pepperdine has been a family affair for Kathleen (Warford) Stephens and me. Not only did we meet at Pepperdine University, but all of our children also attended Pepperdine University and met their wives at the University. When our children graduated from high school, Kathleen worked at the School of Law where two of our three children, James D. Stephens (’94, JD ’97), and T. J. Stephens (’96, JD ’99) graduated. James is married to Cynthia (Venn) Stephens (’95) and TJ is married to Sheena (Latham) Stephens (’96). Both sons are practicing attorneys in Westlake Village and Camarillo, respectively. Our oldest son, David Stephens (’94), married to Leslie (Tice) Stephens (’91), graduated in 1994. All of our children have fond memories of Pepperdine University. What words of wisdom would you share with fellow alumni and lend to the next generation of Pepperdine Waves? Pepperdine is resilient. Its history, its heritage, its spiritual anchoring, and the richness of the relationships that exist among the people of Pepperdine University are the most important. As alumni, we stand on the shoulders of so many individuals: faculty, staff, administration, donors, and other committed individuals who have made and built the University into the great institution that it is today. It is now our privilege to continue that tradition of service, purpose, and leadership and to pass that torch to others so that Pepperdine’s light will continue to shine. And yet, while that torch is in our hands it is our privilege and responsibility to keep it burning brightly to enable the next generation to experience the growth, the joys and the opportunities we have embraced. George Pepperdine articulated our motto well by quoting from the Gospel of Matthew: “Freely ye received, freely give.” We have all been enriched by our experiences at Pepperdine University, and now we have the opportunity to give something back through our service and through our commitment to the University’s mission. †
A R T I C L E S 10
A R T I C L E S 11
Hymnal Heist
By Dean Zook (’68)
I attended 79th and Vermont campus from the fall term in 1965 to December 1968 when I graduated. In that time, I only pulled one prank, but it was unique. One evening in October 1968, the day before then Vice President Hubert Humphrey was due to speak on campus, three of my friends (who shall remain nameless unless we are all given a blanket amnesty, as I will not rat out my fellow conspirators) and I were in my dorm room in Lawhorn Hall. One of these friends had spent two years at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, so for him a slow evening was the time to hatch and execute “nefarious schemes.” It started with his idle comment, “I’d give up a night’s sleep if we could get into the auditorium and take out all the hymnals.” (The auditorium on campus was used for all Chapel services, so under each seat was a holder for a copy of the hymnals used during Chapel.) The rest of us volunteered without saying a word and the plot was on. Armed only with our room keys and student IDs, we scouted out the auditorium and found an unlocked door. Once inside, we gathered up all the hymnals and piled them up on the stage. From somewhere we came up with an old shopping cart for moving the hymnals in bulk. During my freshman year, there was a grocery store adjacent to the campus on property owned by the college, but by this time it had been taken over and converted to a student recreation center, so this cart may have been left over from that store. The question of where to stash the hymnals was answered by the presence of an old wood observatory dome in a forgotten corner of the campus. This telescope dome was supposed to be placed on the top of the never-built science center planned for the 79th and Vermont campus. The “Annual Ground Breaking” for this science center was a long running joke by this time and the dome itself wound up as fuel for an on-campus bonfire. With the hymnals safely hidden, we got back to our rooms to get maybe three or four hours of sleep before classes started at 8 a.m. that morning. The singing at Chapel that day was probably the shortest on record. When the word was passed to those on stage that the hymnals were gone, the person leading the singing named a hymn we all knew and we only sang one verse. But our story does not end there. Two or three days later, after I had gone to bed, my three coconspirators got together without my knowledge, grabbed the shopping cart, and proceeded to put all the hymnals back! They left the cart on the auditorium stage declaring the return of the books. The event was written up in the campus newspaper and generated a lot of talk but no real effort to indentify us perpetrators. The four of us were amazed that we had gotten away with it. After all, the vice president was coming to speak on campus and 1968 had seen the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. We wondered if maybe we had been spotted by the Secret Service but when they saw what we were doing,
they just let us get on with it as it was no threat to Hubert Humphrey. Still, we thought it was the perfect stunt to pull on GPC. It hurt nobody, damaged nothing, and was noticed by everybody. On top of that, it apparently had never been done before. Within two or three weeks, two of us confessed separately and the only reaction from the school administration was (if I remember right) that it was the coolest joke played on the college in quite some time. †
The Alums of GPC
By Lorraine (Hill) Brinton (’60)
Once there was a little college located south of downtown. To many of us, it was the best school around. Guys coming home from the war Found the GI Bill granting them an open door. A chance to get a higher education and meet a special someone along the way, Many of those couples are still married today. There was once a football team. (No, it isn’t just someone’s dream.) Those surviving guys still together meet And raise money for scholarships so today’s students can compete. We were small but mighty with great athletic teams And musical productions that were the best. Students came from far and near To go to Pepperdine College in the west.
What Pepperdine Means
to Me
By Jessie (Halley) La Franboise (’43)
Before I find my own name on the “In Memoriam” page of the Promenade, I’d like to pay homage to the Home Economics Department as I knew it during the years of 1939-1943 when I attended George Pepperdine College. Briefly, the curriculum for “home ec” (home economics) was divided into four areas. Child care and development was conducted by Dr. Pullias in psychology. Organic chemistry came under the supervision of Dr. Coons of the Chemistry Department. Foods and nutrition was led by Dr. Callie Mae Coons, the head of home ec, whose force was in the science of nutrition. The fourth area included a variety of subjects, which could be called the art of home economics. It included classes in color and design, interior decorating, textiles and weaving, floor plan reading and drawing, and garment design and construction done on a personalized dress form sans paper patterns normally used in dress making. To culminate the four years of home economics studies was a one-semester event where six senior women and their chaperone lived off campus in a lovely Mediterranean style four-bedroom house where we demonstrated our abilities in homemaking. Several stories come to mind from my home ec experience. At the practice house, it was my turn to serve dinner. Knowing I would be late getting back from an afternoon date, I served canned macaroni and cheese as the main course. Boy! Did
Zela (Godfrey) McClanahan (‘43) (left) and Jessie (Halley) La Franboise (‘43) (right) in the kitchen of the home economics practice house.
Doctor Coons come down on me for that! She scolded that I could have made macaroni and cheese for a dozen people for what I spent on two cans of it! On another occasion, forgetting to study ahead of time for a test on cuts of meat and the locations on the beef carcass they came from, I madly devised a code system during the lunch hour. The code worked! As kids would say today, “I aced it!” Dr. Coons found employment for some of us. I was hired to bus tables and wash dishes at Bullock’s Tea Room. Before I could go to work there, I needed a pair of black shoes. I purchased black leather pumps with Cuban heels. Customers kept looking at my feet for reasons unknown to me at the time. It wasn’t until I noticed the waitresses wore black floats that I understood why.
Years came and went with new students and faculty and growing pains. A move to Malibu would put us high upon the plains, Overlooking the ocean blue, At last our nickname “Waves” would be true. As we studied and played and had lots of fun, Doubt we ever thought about the many folks who financially gave So that our educations could be saved. We’re growing small in numbers, the alums of GPC Fading into the sunset to face eternity. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all who received would give back in return So that future generations could continue to learn?
The training I received at GPC prepared me well for parenthood and homemaking. It likewise contributed to my ability to enter the field of public education for a career that lasted over 35 years, part of which were spent at the junior high school level in classes of cooking and nutrition. †
Pepperdine University is approaching “75.” How wonderful it would be if the alums of GPC, Contributed a gift, large or small, To show that our years on campus and our degrees Meant something after all. Jessie (seated left) with classmates in the practice house.
ART IC L E S
12
ALUMNI RECO GNITION & IN MEMORIAM
13
Oly Tegner AwArd
submit a nomination for the
Matriarch
Honoring the of a GPC LEGACY FAMILY
Do you know a fellow George Pepperdine College alumnus who exemplifies Pepperdine’s mission? Of course you do! Please consider nominating them for the Oly Tegner Award so their fine example does not go unnoticed!
By J. A. “Jim” Dilbeck (’67)
Named for esteemed GPC alumnus, Dr. Olaf “Oly” H. Tegner (’43), Dean Emeritus, Graduate School of Education and Psychology, the Oly Tegner Award seeks to honor those GPC alumni who lead lives of purposeful servant leadership, like Oly did. Nominees for the Oly Tegner Award are GPC alumni who have excelled in each of the following categories in their lives:
Some of you may remember that my mother (then Florence Prout) went to GPC against her father’s wishes. He wanted her to stay in Sonoma County, California, on the egg ranch, but she was able to pay her own way and said, “I’m going!” She began as a student at Pepperdine College, majoring in home economics and sciences and also studying Spanish. However, she met my dad there—W. H. Dilbeck (’46)—and ultimately got her “MRS” instead of a “BA.” A soldier gave her a train ticket to go home (he was going off to war), and she went home to tell her parents about the proposal. They were not pleased that she was going to marry, much less a Church of Christ minister. When she came back, she met my dad by the Dolores fountain and told him “OK.”
helped raise money for curtains and such. At one fraternity “Presents” weekend, JoBeth was my date, and I told the campus guard, “I’m J. A., this is J. B., and J. C. is coming soon [in another car].” I don’t know why everyone laughed. “J.C.” was of course referring to James “Chip” Moore (’67, MBA ’77). As a senior, I returned to Baxter Hall as an “RA” (resident advisor) with Steve Sexson (’69), whose father had preached at Burbank High School where Steve and I had attended together. Small world! When I got into student government, I went to the library and talked with Dot Moore. She showed me old yearbooks which helped illustrate how it was when my parents were there.
They moved into Baxter Hall together, which was then partly married students’ housing. When she was expecting my brother, they had to move into an apartment nearby. Fortunately, my dad’s family was also living in Los Angeles to work in the “war effort,” so she didn’t have to deal with everything alone.
Remember when the rocks were knocked down and the original Dolores pedestal was found? I went searching for a copy of Dolores, which got damaged when stolen by Columbia Christian (and returned in a coffin!). It was nowhere to be found, so a different version appeared.
My mom used her home economics education in many ways, including providing good nutrition for kids at Vacation Bible School. Her Spanish classes came in very handy during her time as a “missionary wife” in Panama, as well as later in Los Angeles and Montebello at a church that was started by my grandfather (now mostly Spanish speaking).
Many of you met my parents over the years, and they were very loyal Pepperdiners. In fact, there are now at least three generations of us Pepperdine graduates with my niece, Amy Dilbeck (’02), having graduated from Pepperdine School of Law and passed the bar. Many of you were in my parents’ home, either for fraternity functions or student government planning meetings.
When I started as a freshman at George Pepperdine College, it was the beginning of the “trimester” system. I stood in line next to Barbara “Boo Boo” (Sexson) Davis (’67), sat next to Elizabeth “Bette” (Ledbetter) Benson (’67) in Chapel, moved into Baxter Hall with Jeff Purser (’67, MA ’07), and our room was across the hall from Jack Carrington (’66). We registered and paid our bills in the new “Administration Building” on 81st, where my mother, as a member of AWP (Associated Women for Pepperdine), had
My mother just turned 88 this past May 21. She is healthy, active, bright, and cheerful, with many loving grand and greatgrandchildren. If you would like to contact her, feel free to e-mail me at twoson60@yahoo.com. Hope all is well with all of you. Jim
Service to Pepperdine University Service to their communities Service to their profession Nominations for the 2012 award will be accepted through January 13, 2012. Please send specific examples of how your nominee excels in the above criteria. To submit your nomination, type the following address into your computer’s web browser and follow the instructions to fill out the online form: www.pepperdine.edu/olytegneraward. Also available at that website is a version of the form that you can print and handwrite your nomination to send to us by mail. As another option, you can contact the George Pepperdine College Alumni Affairs office to request that a hard copy of the form be mailed to you. To request this or ask any questions, please call (800) 767-2586 ext. 5 or e-mail us at gpc@pepperdine.edu. Thank you for helping us recognize outstanding GPC Waves! †
In Memoriam
We take this time to remember those Waves who have recently passed, and we celebrate the impact they made on fellow alumni and the world around them.
Mrs. Marilyn Aguirre (’50)
Mr. William J. Layden (’51)
Mr. Donn R. Byron (’50)
Mrs. Pearl A. Marshall (’49)
Mr. Thomas A. Cosgrove (’54)
Mr. Charles W. McDonald (’47)
Ms. Kay Y. Engel (’48, MA ’76) Mrs. Ramona (Fox) Hahn (’50) Dr. Orville M. Herr (’40)
Reverend Edwin W. Miller (’56) Mr. Richard “Dick” T. Noonan (’54) Mr. Donald A. Ruston (’51) Mr. Elling Sagen (’54)
Mr. Roger C. Hyduke (’54)
Mr. Kenneth Showalter (’70, MBA ’72)
Mr. Larry K. Kerbs (’71)
Dr. Irl N. Stalcup (’46)
As you learn of the passing of George Pepperdine College alumni, please contact GPC Alumni Affairs at (310) 506-4348 or gpc@pepperdine.edu.
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THE GEORGE PEPPERDINE COLLEGE NEWSLETTER
Pepperdine University Malibu, CA
24255 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90263-4348
Upcoming Events OCTOBER 10/13
10/14 - 10/16
W. David Baird Distinguished Lecture Series* – “The Moral Life of Downtown: Bringing the Humanities to the Poor,” presented by Dr. Earl Shorris Waves Weekend – The ultimate annual gathering of Waves, including a nostalgic tour of the original campus and the official kick-off of Pepperdine’s 75th Anniversary Celebration
NOVEMBER 11/10 - 11/13
DECEMBER 12/2
JANUARY TBD
Pepperdine Musical Theatre: Xanadu (Helen E. Lindhurst Theatre) Pepperdine Choir and Orchestra Christmas Concert (Smothers Theatre)
1/13
Oly Tegner Award Nomination Deadline
1/15
Dionne Warwick [Smothers Theatre] – A “President’s Choice” performance presented by Pepperdine University’s Center for the Arts. Call the box office to order: (310) 506-4522.
1/25
W. David Baird Distinguished Lecture Series* – “Enrique’s Journey,” presented by Sonia Nazario
FEBRUARY 2/23, 2/25
Pepperdine Opera: Die Fledermaus (“The Bat”) (Smothers Theatre)
2/29 - 3/5
WCC Basketball Championship Tournament (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Alumni Night at Firestone Fieldhouse – Gather with fellow Waves to cheer on your men’s and women’s basketball teams as they take on rivals at home.
* All lectures in the “W. David Baird Distinguished Lecture Series” will take place at 7:00 p.m. in Elkins Auditorium on the Malibu Campus.
For additional information on these and other alumni events and opportunities, contact us at (310) 506-4348 or gpc@pepperdine.edu.