Category Archive: Cal Poly
Feb 24
Prisoner of War, Rationing and Kasserine Pass, World War II week by week
Feb. 17, 1943 Former Cal Poly student and basketball letterman Lt. Charles A. Cook Jr. was taken prisoner of war by Germany. The 1940 graduate was flying in bombers as a flight officer with the Royal Air Force and had completed about 36 operational sorties over enemy territory. He sent a letter from the prison …
Jan 20
Cal Poly goes on night shift, World War II week by week
January 7, 1942 First Lt. Nelson Herbert Russell of San Luis Obispo is a prisoner of the Japanese in the Philippine Islands, it was announced yesterday by the War Department. Formerly employed for three years by the county welfare office in San Luis Obispo, Lieutenant Russell was a member of the Army Reserves and entered …
Dec 24
Cal Poly hosts navy flight school, World War II week by week
The December 17, 1942 edition of the Telegram-Tribune contained good news for Cal Poly. The college had been threatened with closure at various times during its early history but now it had a war assignment. The U.S. Navy chose Cal Poly as one of 20 colleges with Naval Flight Preparatory schools. A minimum of 600 …
Nov 16
‘Full Metal Jacket’ author Gustav Hasford and his book collection
If you love old bookstores you know the smell. The scent of bookbinder’s glue, old pages and stories, lots of stories. The aroma permeated the storage locker as I took photos of author Gustav Hasford. San Luis Obispo storage locker would later yield more than one story. It began innocently enough. Hasford had written the …
Aug 09
James H. Hayes and the craft of writing
Good teachers share knowledge with students. Exceptional teachers inspire students to tread the path of learning and life. A handful of Cal Poly professors changed the direction of my career. Some closed doors some opened them. One slammed the door in my face and challenged me to open it. I never told him thanks till …
Aug 03
Creators of the Cal Poly Mustang
The bronze mustang has been rearing up on his hind legs next to the University Union in War Memorial Plaza for 30 years now. Telegram-Tribune reporter Carol Roberts wrote about the creators April 22, 1982 just before it was unveiled for the 50th Poly Royal: A mustang in bronze When a lifesize bronze statue of …
Jun 09
Fremont Theater opens, Cal Poly Bachelor’s degrees, World War II week by week
Can I ask a favor? If you think an article is worthwhile could you share a link on your favorite social media? When we had our technology meltdown we were offline for a number of weeks and now need to get the word out we are back. With our blogging technical difficulties resolved it is …
Apr 18
Titanic Sinks, Telegram swims
C.L. Day the new editor and manager of the San Luis Obispo Daily Telegram was desperately bailing water, trying to keep his ship from sinking. He had just bought the debt saddled Telegram five days a little over a month earlier on March 11, 1912. The paper needed a lot of work. Founded as a temperance advocate …
Apr 16
Poly Royal 25, birth of the West Coast’s first Geodesic Dome
How old is the Geodesic Dome in Poly Canyon and how much did it cost? The structure has weathered rain, wind, earthquakes and grazing cattle over the years and still is an inspiration when you visit it. It has survived better than newer structures in the canyon now being restored or allowed to fall to …
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