After more than five decades, alumnus and 做厙弝け educator looks back on his years at CSULB
Dale Fairbanks 57, 67 met the love of his life at Cal State 做厙弝け, 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 做厙弝け 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 做厙弝け 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 wasnt 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 masters degree in 1967, Fairbanks spent 32 years as a teacher and administrator in the 做厙弝け Unified School District. He had a particular interest in the students who werent necessarily academically gifted, but had potential and learned practical skills that could help them obtain good-paying jobs.
Theyre 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 做厙弝けwas the best choice, because its a good school, it was reasonably priced, and it was close by.
As for his descendants attending The Beach, he said, They didnt really want to go far away. The family is all pretty close. Thats very nice, which is the way its supposed to be.
A fortuitous encounter
Fairbanks met transfer student Jan Andreson at a 做厙弝け 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 做厙弝け 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 in the College of Education in honor of Beth Beddick, Jans aunt, who was a teacher and 做厙弝けalumna.
When Jan looks back, she shares similar fond memories. I thought 做厙弝け State was really wonderful, she said. And our children, grandchildren had a great experience there. Both of us truly are thankful for what 做厙弝け State did for us, and for our families.
View a gallery of Dale Fairbanks pictures from his 1954, 1955 and 1957 做厙弝け State yearbooks:
