Tag 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 …
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 …
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 …
Mar 19
Olive orchard moved to Laguna Lake
Olive trees were introduced to California landscape during the founding of the missions. Olive oil performs sacred, culinary and utilitarian roles. There are dozens of biblical references to the olive, and oil is still used to anoint the faithful. Stories surrounding the olive predate the Bible going back to early Greek and Roman history. Mediterranean …
Mar 06
Remembering those who served
Cal Poly corrected an oversight this week by remembering two alumni who died while serving the country. Their names were added this week to the plaques at Cal Poly’s War Memorial Plaza. The plaza is located between the administration building and university union with the large bronze mustang. Army Captain Larry Dean Baldwin died March …
Feb 08
You can call me Al, Weird Al
Find the path to international recording fame using this one weird trick. Record in the bathroom. Among the porcelain urinals and sinks, across the hall from radio station, KCPR is the sound environment that launched a recording star. Alfred M. Yankovic is arguably the second most famous Cal Poly graduate after John Madden. If you …
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