After more than five decades, alumnus and Long Beach educator looks back on his years at CSULB
Dale Fairbanks ‘57, ‘67 met the love of his life at Cal State Long Beach, and his love for his alma mater has only grown over the years.
Fairbanks was a member of the first freshman class to complete four years at Long Beach State College, as it was called then. He also served as freshman class president in 1953. He and his wife, Jan ‘57, helm a multigenerational Beach family and are inaugural members of the Golden Graduate Society, created to recognize those who graduated 50 or more years ago.
Dale, who turns 90 in June, looks back fondly on his days at Long Beach State and particularly treasures the education he obtained.
“My professors, I realized later, were hungry, honest and gave us both sides of the story,” said Fairbanks, who got his B.A. in political science and his M.A. in history. “These guys were honest and did a terrific job covering all the bad parts of our history, good parts of our history and questionable parts of our history.”
He remembers professors such as Irving Ahlquist (“the best lecturer on campus”), who taught history and served as his M.A. advisor, and Elizabeth Nielsen, who taught English and “could speak Chaucerian English.”
“She was a real scholar,” Fairbanks recalled. “She knew famous people in Britain. She was an acquaintance of Virginia Woolf. They were marvelous.”
Outside of his studies, Fairbanks competed on the track team for four years. His specialties were the javelin and 440-yard dash. His letterman jacket – along with some clips from old campus newspapers – are on display in a case in the Anna W. Ngai Alumni Center.
“I was the first four-year letterman in track and field,” he said. “You went out for the track team because it was fun. There were no scholarships, athletically, at that time. Everybody in every sport was a volunteer. They were there because they wanted to play and had fun playing.”
Most of his track teammates, he said, were Korean War veterans. “They were mature people and they had a lot of influence on me. I wasn’t hazed or made fun of. These were older people who were really respected. It was wonderful to have someone around to admire and look up to.”
After completing his master’s degree in 1967, Fairbanks spent 32 years as a teacher and administrator in the Long Beach Unified School District. He had a particular interest in the students who weren’t necessarily academically gifted, but had potential and learned practical skills that could help them obtain good-paying jobs.
“They’re all kids and they all need a chance,” he said.
While he had the opportunity to attend other, more expensive universities in the area, Fairbanks still believes CSULB was the best choice, because “it’s a good school, it was reasonably priced, and it was close by.”
As for his descendants attending The Beach, he said, “They didn’t really want to go far away. The family is all pretty close. That’s very nice, which is the way it’s supposed to be.”
A fortuitous encounter
Fairbanks met transfer student Jan Andreson at a Long Beach State sorority event called “Presents” in fall 1955. The two hit it off immediately.
“It was love at first sight. She was a total knockout,” he reminisced. “She was the smartest girl I ever dated. It was heavenly; I really had a grand time.”
The two became the quintessential Long Beach State couple – he was a track athlete and president of Associated Men Students and his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. She was a homecoming princess and a member of Tri Delta.
The couple married in 1958, a year after they graduated. Since then, they have developed a lifelong relationship with The Beach, sending their daughters (Alison and Melissa) and granddaughters (Nicole and Brynn) to CSULB. They have also given back generously, participating in various alumni organizations and providing significant philanthropic support. In short, the Fairbanks clan has become a true, multigenerational Beach family.
Dale and Jan are members of the Carillon Society, which honors those who have significantly supported The Beach. They are also members of the Donor Loyalty group for 20-plus years of giving, have supported track and field, and have an endowed student award in the College of Education in honor of Beth Beddick, Jan’s aunt, who was a teacher and CSULB alumna.
When Jan looks back, she shares similar fond memories. “I thought Long Beach State was really wonderful,” she said. “And our children, grandchildren had a great experience there. Both of us truly are thankful for what Long Beach State did for us, and for our families.”
View a gallery of Dale Fairbanks pictures from his 1954, 1955 and 1957 Long Beach State yearbooks:
