Cal State Polytechnic College - El Rodeo Yearbook (San Luis Obispo, CA)

Page 17 text:

In Tribute In 1933 the State Bureau of Agricultural Education Chief, Julian A. McPhee, came to a school of less than 200 students. Plans were afoot to convert the two-year vocational institution into a reformatory, but McPhee had a dream: to build a school to instruct farmers for California's fields and agricultural education teachers for her high schools. Over the next 33 years, McPhee was to win his initial dream and, as a by-product, to build new dreams and eventually establish a four year degree granting college complex which will have a 1970 combined enrollment of over 22,000. But the fulfillment of his dreams was an arduous task and it was not until 1942 that he saw the first bachelor's degree granted. After World War II, his dream grew and he led the burgeoning college from the fields of agriculture and industry into the sciences, engineering, business and the arts. Yet McPhee's dreams also had depth. In 1938 Charles Voorhis gave the state his 157 acre ranch near San Dimas, and in 1949 the Kellogg Foundation donated the 816 acre Kellogg Arabian Ranch near Pomona. On the latter, McPhee led the formation of a second campus to disseminate what was fast becoming known as the McPhee brand' of education: the learn by doing philosophy. This philosophy was a direct outgrowth of his early experience with agricultural education. Over the years he came to believe that the theoretical side of education was not enough; he would send out graduates trained in practical means of getting things done. His approach to education has always been controversial among the nation's educational theoreticians, but now after years of practicing it, he points with pride to many grad- uates who are leaders in agriculture, engineering, business and the sciences. Why has McPhee spent the greatest portion of his adult life pursuing his dream? He answers: There has been nothing more rewarding in my life than seeing young people develop into self reliant adults capable in their fields and trained to become leaders. 13

Page 16 text:

12

Page 18 text:

In Dedication Having devoted thirty-three years of his life toward the growth and devel- opment of three campuses of California State Polytechnic College, President Julian A. McPhee now brings to a close a glorious span of dedicated service to the support and progress of our educational system. Under his guidance, a tradition has been established . . . encompassing the values of the Cal Poly philosophy. To him we dedicate the 1966 El Rodeo as a tribute to his accomplishments.