Your Memories
Welcome one and all. This is a page dedicated to memories shared by all of our alumni. We hope you can share those amazing memories with everyone here. You can also send us photos of your time spent at CSULB, we’ll be happy to post them with your permission!.
July 11th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Hi Guys!
I graduated in 1953…and do not see my name in the roster of classmates!…where am I? I arrrived at LBS (as it was known then) in 1951…was V. Pres and then President of Women Students in 1952-3 (I think)…am I lost???
Please help me!!!
Best awishes,
Virginia Benson (Ginny)
April 1st, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Attending Long Beach State College in fall of 1954 was a unique experience. Sheep grazed on what would become upper campus while classes were held in bungalows along Anaheim Rd. Many of us who had just graduated from high school were challenged by the seasoned Korean War veterans who resumed their education on the G.I. Bill. Since LBSC was a commuter campus, many students scheduled classes around jobs and other obligations. Those who participated in campus activities were a close-knit group, eager to develop programs and events. It was an exciting experience to serve in student government and know the ideas that came from our discussions would chart a course for the school in years to come. Campus organizations were formed and grew with room for everyone to contribute to their development. Athletic events, including football, drew students to campus with associated activities including decorated floats and Homecoming Queens. Sororities and fraternities organized on campus, encouraging strong friendships among members, many who lived miles apart. My Alpha Phi sisters are very special friends, more than fifty years since our installation.
Eventually, the sheep were sent to another pasture and construction of the permanent campus began. New classroom buildings changed the landscape quickly. I was impressed with state of the art equipment we used to produce “The 49er” newspaper. One of my fondest memories is of taking part in the production of “Carousel” in the beautiful New Theater. The new library provided me, not only a job on campus, but a place to study with typewriters available to use for a dime. Professors came from many other colleges and universities to teach at State. Academic expectations were high, but my instructors were always accessible and helpful.
I’ve retired from teaching and, now, paint and exhibit watercolors. My husband of almost 50 years, Wally Herring, (BA Sociology ‘58) retired as Chief Probation Officer for Butte County. We have two children and five grandchildren. Our home is in Paradise, CA, a town in the Northern Sierra foothills. We send greetings to all the people we wish we could see again from our class of 1958. Susan Upson Herring (BA English ‘58)
March 27th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Remarkable Experiences at CSULB in the early years.
CSULB students enjoyed visits by a variety of celebrities and remarkable people during my two years there (B.A. 1959). As a Reporter/Columnist with the Forty-Niner student newspaper, I had the privilege and pleasure of meeting and interviewing many of these individuals. This includes Former First Lady (columnist, humanitarian Eleanor Roosevelt (JFK appointed her head of the Commission on the Status of Women in 1961), Louie Armstrong, celebrated drama critic John Mason Brown, Sir John Gielgud, (director and famed Shakespearean actor), Drew Pearson (commentator and syndicated columnist (–“Washington Merry-go-round”) and Bennett Cerf (publisher, writer, columnist, humorist, lecturer and the urbane end-man of TV’s “What’s My Line”–now shown in re-runs).
Meeting and interviewing Mr. Cerf was made more memorable by how we met him. He had commented on his TV show that he was going to be on a speaking tour to a hick college (CSULB) in Long Beach. So we decided to play a trick on him. We borrowed an old ugly, Model A to meet him at the posh Beverly Hills Hotel. Of course we had the president’s limo following us and planned to take a photo of his consternation and then show him to the limo. He was delighted with the prank and insisted that he ride all the way to Long Beach in that tiny car. In fact that evening before his lecture he shared the details about our “delightful” prank and his car trip and said, “It was so snug in that car that I have a permanent indention on my hip from the mole on Jacqueline’s hip.”
March 27th, 2009 at 9:54 am
I GOT KICKED OUT OF CSULB
I was told after my first year at Long Beach State, I couldn’t continue because my grade points got below C average. At the time I majored in business and accounting, transferring in from L.B.C.C. I was taking 16 units and working three part-time jobs, plus romancing my future wife to be. I failed Zoology with a D.
I didn’t want to waste three years of college, so I reapplied with a letter indicating I would only take 12 units and quit one of my three part time jobs. Upon being reinstated to L.B. State, I took a class I thought I would like, in Industrial Arts Education / Printing (Graphic Arts). Thanks to my instructor, Dr. James Ryan, he noticed how much I liked his class with me spending extra time working on my projects. He asked me about changing my major, to become a teacher. (There wasn¹t much of a Counseling Department or Services in 1953.)
I changed my major to become an Industrial Arts Teacher (Shop Classes) and started loving it. I also, became more involved in student government, and became Student Body Treasurer. My grade point average became 4.0+ and I received my BA Degree and teaching credential (Life General Secondary, which is no longer given out.) My first year of teaching was at Jordan H.S. and then for 5 years at Whittier H.S. teaching printing.
After 5 years teaching at Whittier I quit to open my own printing business (Apple Graphics) in the Anaheim area. After 22 in my business I decided to sell it and went through a divorce. I applied for a teaching position in Santa Ana to teach ROP (Regional Occupational Program) Graphic Layout Artist Courses, using the old method of paste-up, glue, and T Squares. My daughter, Suzy, an Electrical Engineer Graduate from Cal. Berkeley, introduced me to the Apple Lisa Computer in 1983. On Super Bowl Sunday 1984, Apple Computer Introduced the New MacIntosh Computer, with a 9″ Black and White Screen. From that day on: HISTORY WAS MADE IN THE PRINTING INDUSTRY.
I realized the importance of this new computer, and convinced my ROP Director to order these Mac Computers. This changed the whole printing industry concept. I had to write my own curriculum and changed the course name to: Computer Graphics (having a printing background helped.) and my classes exploded. I had to turn away students. I taught ROP Computer Graphics for 25 years (1983 - 2008), and retired in 2008 from teaching.
I married my present wife, Della Olson Brown, in 1998 with her 3 adult children and my 5 adult children giving us a blended family of 8 with 5 grandchildren. We have settled in Oceanside, CA. We both work together now, traveling in Southern California with our new RV trailer, developing and producing “Guest Services Directories”, (Site Maps) for the RV Camping Parks which is a perfect job, traveling and, using my computer experience.
Life has been good to me, and I would never go back and change things. The one thing I found that is important: “To Like What You Do” and everything will come to you.
Bernard A. Brown
BA degree 1954, MA, 1956
March 4th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Wow, how great “Golden Graduates” I am honored to know that I am part of that group graduating in 1959. The four years I spent at “Long Beach State” as it was then, were some of the best years of my life. I was very involved in many student activities and organizations, including Delta Zeta Sorority, CSTA (future teachers), yearbook, Califias (womens honorary), and others. I was honored to receive one of the four “49′er” Awards given to graduating seniors. As I read some of the memories I also remembered Dr. Shipley as a great teacher and one who made me aware of nature and the natural world around us. Also, the rains of 1955 were so bad that finals were postponed and cars that were parked on the hill slide down to lower campus. What a mess it was. Some of the most fun was had during “49′er Days” which was held in the Spring of each year. Each sorority, fraternity, and clubs had a booth. We all tried to outdo one another. One year all the members of Delta Zeta dressed in identical brightly colored Mexican dresses and I think we sold natchos (but not sure about that.) There was always a Black Bart, Lotta Crabtree and a parade. I will close for now, but I want to write more later. I still live in Garden Grove and am a retired Garden Grove school teacher.
February 17th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
It is so nice to hear from CSULB.edu. It has been a long time. jAter leaving Long Beach State, I went to MIT and Harvard. I had a very good time (the professors were strong), and the time was worth it, as I was asked to work with various people who were working with ships and various people from abroad. I tought it was risky at first but nothing stood in my; way. I was away from the US for years, but one day, when I returned to Long Beach, I met my bride to be, Marialice. We have been married 44 years, have older kids, and they have kids (some of whom will be at Long Beach State soon). Working with the governmeat overseas, I was able to learn Japanese and other languages. Now, Marialice and I are situated in San Antonio, Texas. Our kids are all graduates to various universities, and they have kids. By the way, my favorite professor was Dr. Janet Sawyer (there were others as well). Dr. Sawyer started me on the way of becoming associated with the US government Take care, and Thanks. Dr. Curt Hayes (favorite professor at Long Beach: Dr. Janet Sawyer (We still hear from each other). Best wishes to Long Beach State University.
Dr. Curt Hayes.
February 14th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Oh, yes, I have fond memories of being a part of the beginning years of such a major university. Who knew back then?
As in 1919, when my mother went to Los Angeles State Normal School, she never guessed it would turn into a major university after it moved from the Vermont Ave. campus, which is now named Los Angeles City College.
My 2 older children went to USC. They will always hear that grandma went to what became, when the school moved to the “new” Westwood campus, California State University, Southern Branch. Then became, can you guess?
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES,
UCLA
So, we both, mom and I, had good memories of college days, being part of new, growing, expanding, exciting schools. I remember when we finally could attend classes in the “real” buildings on “Upper Campus”, and had decent parking lots, instead of the one I described on Lower Campus when it rained.
My son’s memories of being part of the USC Marching Band, and getting his Master’s Degree in music and teaching credential with one of my old Commodore computers, and my daughter’s memories of getting a law degree at University of Colorado, Denver, with another Commodore computer and an old XT MS-DOS computer, remind us how computers have changed.
I remember typing term papers on a manual typewriter, trying not to make a mistake, then having to get another piece of paper, and retyping a page. Again and again. I knew how to type, just wasn’t perfect. Sooner or later you gave up, gather the best looking pages, put them together to make the teacher happy, and hope for the best. Nothing like today’s results thanks to professional types of software.
I have shared the alumni magazines with others. I have a friend who helps with the Bolsa Wetlands, and was interested in the article relating the university with caring about wildlife.
I also enjoy the information I’ve been getting via internet articles. I hope to be more active in alumni activities.
Thank you for your encouragement, and research into the old barracks.
El Camino Community College, in the Torrance/Gardena area, is still using one of it’s old barrack buildings for janitorial supplies or some such thing. It’s like an antique!
Los Angeles County Hospital, Harbor-UCLA, on Carson St. has quite a few of the old military hospital barracks buildings from World War 2, still in the same locations. Imagine! “Temporary”, thrown together in haste, but still in use over 65 years later, as out-patient clinics, helping disabled children, etc.
February 12th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Favorite professor- Dr. Graves-favorite spot-The Quad-special moment-Graduation. this was sent to me from a friend that was there at the same time as I was.
Marilyn Simpson Otto
February 12th, 2009 at 11:47 am
A special moment was when, what is the upper campus today. was being dedicated and the first shovel was of soil was being dug for the new campus.
They were running around the music bungalows asking for anyone to grab and instrument and help with the dedication I took along cymbals. It is such a grand campus today. Mrs. Bixby was part of the dedication.
My favorite meeting place on campus was the quad where students and faculty met together. those are a few of my very happy times at CSULB
Rosalie Avzaradel Behar class of 54
February 12th, 2009 at 11:42 am
I remember well the great time I had as Editor of the 1957 PROSPECTOR. I was especially pleased with our Divider Pages. I and my Art Editor, Joyce Van Every, went up to USC and went through their old glass negatives for appropriate pictures. If you look back at a copy you can enjoy the vintage pictures we found and used. Kathryn Childs Urbon “57.
February 12th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I have good memories of my cousins when I was growing up. One became an original faculty member, in chemistry, at Long Beach State College.
Don told me about this new college campus not so far from my home down PCH, got my interest, and I decided to transfer to where I had family.
Don was one of 2 very bright brothers, son of a teacher, grandson of a teacher, principal and county superintendent of schools in CO. My cousin was very studious. He had advanced degrees from important universities. He had been a scientist on the original atom bomb. He built a model plant for the city of La Verne that converted garbage into oil, which Occidental Oil bought and then made him a Vice President. He went to Russia and built several of those plants on the Volga River. Long Beach State was an experience along his path.
He has many patents, has been written up in professional magazines and journals. He is still alive, living in Ojai. He would make an interesting person to feature in some article, either about the “garbage into oil” or his work on oil shale, or water treatment.
February 12th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Some semester, back in 1955 or ‘56, but I think ‘55, during finals week, it rained. Actually it POURED! Probably for DAYS! At least, for the days I had some finals.
I say ‘55, because there wasn’t much of “Upper Campus” then. LBSC was a bunch of left over Army barracks in “Lower Campus”, along Anaheim Rd. It was a small, close grouping. It was also not paved well. Put a lot of rain in the air, falling downward to Lower Campus, onto a dirt parking lot topped with some gravel, mix in students with supplies for finals and lots of cars looking for parking, well, just imagine!!
I drove a big, “safe” car, one that didn’t turn around well. I thought I’d better go early to get a good parking spot, and be prepared to struggle with rain boots, umbrella, rain coat, and plastic book bag. Nobody was prepared for the mud. The gravel may have helped keep dust down in dry weather. But rocks sink in water.
Going home I felt dirty from the mud, tired from “blue book” tests, ready for a long nap, after a hot shower and some warm, clean, dry clothes.
I have never had such a semester of finals, or rain, or such a miserable parking lot, before or since. I was 20 then. A lot of years and finals have come and gone. I eventually managed to get an MA in Special Ed. from CSULA, and several more teaching credentials along the way.
Are there any army barracks left? I haven’t been there in years. But I’ll never forget, finals in the rain.
February 12th, 2009 at 11:36 am
As a member of the first freshman class to enroll at Long Beach State in September, 1953, I realized we were pioneers and enjoyed the role. As I recall, there were 113 freshmen.
Three of us ran for President of the Freshman Class - Bill Warch, Monte LaBonte, and myself. With the help of members of Sigma Epsilon Chi fraternity (later Sigma Alpha Epsilon), every member of the freshman class was contacted by phone and postcard, and urged to vote for Dale Fairbanks.
In those days, every student completed a card, which was available in the Activities Office, listing class schedule, home address, and telephone number. Obviously, it was also a wonderful way to contact anyone regarding a luncheon date, dinner date, or study session. I never heard of anyone who seemed to worry about predatory behavior or a violation of privacy.
I won the election.
My first professor, in my first college class, on Monday morning at 8 a.m. in early September, was Dr. Donald D. Shipley, who taught Biology 10. He was one of my all-time favorite teachers. Dr. Shipley was possessed of an exceptionally droll sense of humor, and presented delightful, illuminating, and interesting lectures. He was always organizing field trips, and my first one with him to Mission Bay in San Diego convinced me of his real love of biology in particular and nature in general. By the way, this was before Mission Bay was developed, and we were able to pull of to the side of Pacific Coast Highway, unpack our binoculars and identify the wildlife.
Later, I accompanied him on two week-long field trips deep into Mexico, along the west coast highway past Mazatlan and to San Blas, a small fishing village. While marveling at his extensive knowledge of flora and fauna, we were laughing at his quips in English and mangled Spanish.
Dr. Shipley was later elected to the City Council in Huntington Beach, and was a driving force in the development of the superb system of parks and recreation enjoyed by residents there today. To honor his spirit, the Donald D. Shipley Nature Center was established in Huntington Beach.
Another favorite professor was Dr. Irving F. Ahlquist, an historian, who was the most superb lecturer I have ever met. I was so mesmerized by his lectures, that, as a graduate student, I changed my major from Political Science to History, and earned my MA in History. For a couple of semesters, I was fortunate to be one of his readers in his class on The Civil War and Reconstruction.
In my four years as an undergraduate, I dropped one class, and that was after the first meeting. In retrospect, the high quality of my professors was quite astonishing. There may have been some clinkers, but I must have avoided them.
Perhaps, in another note, I can relate more about some of my other fine teachers.
By the time the freshmen and sophomores arrived in 1953, students and staff had left the apartment buildings in Park Estates, and were attending classes in temporary buildings on Anaheim Road. When new buildings were erected on the hill, everyone referred to the Lower Campus and the Upper Campus. The buildings on the Lower Campus were all single story - and small. The library had no open stacks. If I needed a book, I had to look it up in the card catalog and give a slip to the librarian, who retrieved it for me. It was quite primitive.
Registration for classes was all done by hand, and the lines were longer than any I had ever seen.
The Quad was a central gathering spot, and always crowded. After all, no classroom was more that two minutes away - if that far!
I need to stop. This tome could go on for longer than you will want to read!
Sincerely,
Dale J Fairbanks, BA ‘57; MA ‘67
February 12th, 2009 at 11:34 am
I often wonder how early was my graduation and MA in comparison with others. It has been such a long time ago. We had our classes in an apartment building as there were no regular buildings on campus. Later we had, I think, Army barracks used as classrooms. I do remember using a bathroom to learn to use the film projector!
I have had a long academic life here and abroad. I am retired for many years in Aptos, CA (Santa Cruz County). W. A. Grant graduated BA Feb.1951, June 1956
February 11th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Most classes and activities were held in the wooden “bungalows” on lower campus as the library, language arts, and book store buildings were being constructed on the upper campus. Classes were small, and everyone got to know most of the people in each of their classes. Dr. Swanson was the Dean of Students, and many activities were planned for each of the four class levels - freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior. It was a new beginning, and we were the foundation for organizations, clubs, social activities, sports events, class officers, and numerous other opportunities that were new to campus because we were a new, four year college.
There were no dormitories, (we commuted). There were no bus routes on campus (We had to walk to Bellflower Blvd. to get a bus unless someone had a car.). We were the Forty-Niners not The Beach. Our colors were brown and gold not black and gold. We had our own fight song, We’re the Forty Niners. We watched the campus grow and change as we completed our four years and graduated in 1957. Being part of something as special as Long Beach State was rare and very personal. When I visit campus now and see how large it is and the growth that has occurred since we began in 1953, I am impressed and pleased that I was part of its beginning. I also feel sad that what we created and experienced is hard to find on campus and that no current students will have the opportunities that were offered to us in the beginning.