Did you know… the eve of Christmas Eve* was an important day for OCC’s history?

a person in a red and white sleigh (golf cart) with reindeers and presents on it
Kevin Ballinger participating in the Holiday Cart Parade.

 

It has been great to celebrate OCC’s 75th Anniversary over this last year. If I’m not asked back to do this column during the 100th Anniversary, you may want to remember these dates (especially Christmas Eve Eve):

  • January 1947 – After securing the concept of a junior college on the decommissioned Santa Ana Army Air Base (SAAAB), an official application request was submitted to the federal government.
  • June 1947 – The first meeting was held by five newly elected Orange Coast Junior College Board of Trustees.
  • July 1947 – First order of business was to recruit and hire Dr. Basil Peterson as the first president of Orange Coast College.
  • September 1947 – The second hire was Dr. James Thornton as the vice president in charge of curriculum. He was tasked to develop curriculum to be ready for OCC’s first classes for fall of 1948.
  • December 1947 – The land where OCC is currently located required action by the U.S. Senate as they were dealing with War Assets Administration following World War II. Jim Carnett, Emeritus Director of Community Relations, obtained this quote from the son of OCC’s first president.


“My father spent five weeks in November and December of ’47 dealing with the War Assets Administration in D.C.,” Richard Peterson remembers. “Finally, at 11 p.m. on Dec. 23, the U.S. Senate – just before its Christmas recess – approved the bill to award the property to Orange Coast College. We were able to go home for the holidays.” (Orange Slices Archive 9/27/07).


*December 23, 1947 - Telegram correspondence after the U.S. Senate action read “WAA APPROVED OCJC REQUEST. INTENT LETTER FOLLOWS IN A FEW DAYS. DO NOT PUBLICIZE. B.H. Peterson” Our gift of land to create Orange Coast College happened on the eve of Christmas Eve!

  • January 1948 – The official letter would arrive indicating that “pending all transfer documents the College was granted the land.”
  • February 1, 1948 at noon – Orange Coast Junior College took possession of the land from SAAAB. (Tumbleweeds to Roses). A few more things to do – in the next 7 months: hire staff and faculty, prepare facilities, recruit students…
  • September 1948 – Classes begin!

an aerial view of a large area of land

1942 Arial View of Santa Ana Army Airbase - Source: World War II Sites in the United States: A Tour Guide and Directory by Richard E. Osbourne (California Military Museum)

 

I hope you enjoy the winter break; it has been fun to share stories with all of you. Comments are welcome kballinger.r@retiree.cccd.edu