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ANTHONY: I was President of one of the fraternities at Cal State Northridge.
I used to get calls from Dean Peckham on Saturday and Sunday morning at 8:30,
because one or more of the fraternities had had some kind of indiscretion,
and I was being called on the carpet to explain our misbehavior.
Of course, I never told my parents that the Dean was calling me for that.
They were under the impression that I was a very important person
to the management of the college, because a dean would call me almost every weekend
and ask me to come down to college to help him.
So, it worked for me. I hope I helped the dean get the things done that he wanted to do.
It seems he went from there to a tremendous amount of success with the university.
(Music Plays)
NARRATOR: Few individuals affiliated with Cal State Northridge
are as beloved as Dr. Edmund Peckham.
The son of two teachers, Ed learned the value of education and mentoring at an early age.
With a bachelor's from Brown and a master's and Ph.D from Harvard,
Ed began his service to San Fernando Valley State College in 1967
as Dean of Student Activities and Housing.
Ed was faced with the difficult task of initiating from the ground up
a comprehensive program to improve student life on campus.
ANTHONY: I think Ed's ability to get along with almost everybody
was probably his main tremendous strength.
He was able to deal with people in almost any venue
and come out looking like everybody's friend.
NARRATOR: By 1969, he was named Dean of Students
and in 1985 he was named Vice President of Student Affairs.
Ed was an active administrator, attending Associated Student government meetings,
emceeing campus events, and advising many, many student clubs and organizations.
WILLIAM: When we think about campus spirit, we think of Ed Peckham.
He was a colorful person. He drove a yellow convertible vehicle. I think it was a Pontiac.
And he'd ride this thing in the Homecoming parades.
He just had a lot of color about him and about his involvement with students.
He was, I think, a great friend to students across the campus.
NARRATOR: Although Ed retired in 1991, he and his wife Dory remained close to
the university. He and Dory are longtime season ticket holders for Matador Athletics,
and are loyal supporters of the library and the arts.
Ed was named Honorary Lifetime Director of the Alumni Association and was instrumental
in helping the association create and enhance its support for current students
through its legacy and first generation scholarship programs.
In 2000 Ed was presented with the university's inaugural Emeriti Merit Award,
which the Alumni Association renamed in 2008 as the Dean Edmund Peckham Award,
to honor Ed's impact on five decades of student life at Cal State Northridge.
ANTHONY: I think I go back 43 years with Ed. That's a long time.
I don't think I'm gonna go through with anybody else for 43 more years of my life.
(Music Plays)