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Legacy of Leadership

The first organized student government for Fresno State was established in 1921 as the Student Association when the Normal and Junior College combined into a state college, Fresno Teacher’s College. Institutions had held elections, but at the beginning of the term in September, 1921, the slate was wiped clean. The students then adopted a constitution and elected Mr. Warren Moody as the first student body president.

The road to the present has wound around the curves of time. It has seen many milestones in student government, and undoubtedly will see many more. Today, the student government is called Associated Students, Inc. and functions as the official voice of students.

In an effort to reconnect with the people who have brought our organization this far, ASI asked past leaders to please share their fondest memory or experience, and here’s how they responded:

1936-1937: Mrs. Thyra B. Knapp (Associated Women’s President) “I enjoyed my year as President of AWS. Of course, Fresno State was much smaller then and I knew many of the women students. Jim Mayer was the Student Body President that same year and we became good friends, a friendship which lasted until his death in 2006.”

1937: Mr. Jack Mulkey (Senator of Athletics) “A trip to Hawaii in 1939 with the football team. Football trips and band trips.”

1944: Mr. Robert Arslanian (Member) “In 1944, there were 75 males on campus; it was like a club.”

1944-1945: Mrs. Sara Dougherty (Vice President 1944 and President 1945) “My entire college experience was both happy and involved. It was during WWII and the campus had very few men due to the fact that most guys had gone off to war. My husband was in the U.S. Navy Reserve and was very embarrassed not to have been called for training right away. He eventually became a Naval Air Corp Pilot. I did my student teaching at Fresno High and some of my students then are still my friends some 60 years later. I was richly blessed by my experiences as a student at Fresno State. My sister, Virginia Sager Jansen, was the first Female President at Fresno State.”

1945: Ms. Pearledna Shropshire (Senator and Chair of Election Commission) “This was the beginning of me and Joe Shropshire’s romance. Joe went into the 82nd Airborne the day after we graduated and I taught high school in China Lake (Naval Ordinance Test Station). Three years later we married! We moved to Lindsay, his hometown. He passed away in 1990. I still miss him. Huntington Lake was also a fond memory! Frank Thomas, President, visited our campsite! I was Hill Gooney Queen. When Bill Forbes was president of Alumni Board of Directors (I served on the Board) before and after the completion of the Smittcamp House. That was a wonderful experience and association.”1948: Mr. George Zenovich (President) “I think the year was 1947 or 1948, disputes with Oklahoma State University when blacks were prohibited from playing football with Oklahoma. Jack Kelly and Maynard Mitchell were prohibited from playing for FSC. AS students rebelled and did not want to play the game, but the administration ordered the FSC team to play or pay a $2,000 fine. I led the fight.”

1949-1950: Mr. Warren Kraft (President) “Trying to outwit the PoliSci majors who attended our monthly student council meetings to raise a little discord ‘just for the fun of it.’ Hosting the Pacific Student Presidents Association Convention at the Ahwanee Hotel in Yosemite, May 1950 (124 delegates from 57 colleges and universities of the eight western states.) This brought good acclaims for FSU!”

1951: Mrs. Norma Kerner (Secretary) “Fresno State was a marvelous time, both Arnold Joyal and I started together. He was a dedicated president and we became friends. The ASI presented the selection for Campus Queen and that was my great honor.”

1951: Bob Stout (Athletic Commissioner) “I was elected to a student body office my senior year. I spoke at the Golden Grad Ceremony because I was an Associated Student Body officer and no one else was available. I have always loved Fresno State.”

1952-1953: Mr. Robert E. Coyle (President) “Aside from getting a good education, my activities with the student body opened my eyes to numerous possibilities, and I really enjoyed working and getting to know more students here and at other colleges, as well as the professors and administrators at Fresno State.”

1953-1954: Mr. I Fred Sommers (President) “Athletics (baseball and football) and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.”

1953-1956: Mrs. Dora Jean Glenn Hansen (Member) “Working together to make projects successful.”

1954: Mrs. Patricia Sommers (Secretary) “Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and school dances.”

1957-1959: Mr. Norman Winslow (Vice President) “The dedication of the new campus. Gordon ‘Scotty’ Winslow, Dean of Student Activity, said to me after graduation, ‘You majored in College and got a degree.’ That sums up my experience.”

1960-1961: Mr. Brian Bowman (Senator) “Fraternity and Sorority social events, attending athletic events, winter snow carnival, building homecoming parade floats and sharing good times with other students.”

1961: Mrs. Jane Baxter “In the fall of 1961, President Abboud of the Sudan visited the campus. I met him and served him tea at an informal reception.”

1960-1962: Justice Marvin R. Baxter (Senator 1960-61, President 1961-62) “I had the privilege to serve as Student Body President during FSU’s 50th anniversary year. There were many events commemorating the anniversary. A highlight was Fresno State’s victory in the Mercy Bowl, a benefit football game played against Bowling Green to benefit the survivors and families of the Cal Poly team killed or injured by an airplane crash.”

1962: Dr. Peter G. Mehas (Senator of Athletics) “In 1962, the State Department of Finance and the Chancellor’s office eliminated funds for the FSU baseball park, which was approved by the CSU Board of Trustees. Athletic Director Hall Beatty, ASB President Jerry Tahajian, the students and I (as Commissioner of Athletics) prevailed and for the funding for the ball park field.”1962-1963: Mr. Jerry Tahajian (President) “Student president activities, specifically the fountain dedication and bulldog abduction.”

1964-1965: Mr. Herm Howerton (President, 1964) “The successful campaign to obtain student approval of the student union, including funding while I was SB President.”

1964-1965: Heather Peracchi (Women’s President) “As AWS President, I remember the vote concerning women wearing pants to class. My how times have changed.”

1967-1968: Mr. Michael Case (President) “Lobbied legislature to rename state college as a state university; introduced Senator Robert Kennedy at campus rally, days before assassination; introduced Vice President Hubert Humphrey at campus event; dealing with student takeover of administrative building.”

1976-1977: Mrs. Paulette Kalebjian (Senator) “Teamwork was one of the best skills learned and the value to work in committees. Budget negotiations, as always!”

1980-1982: Mr. Jeff Newman (Senator) “Initiated and implemented The University Lecture Series in 1980-82. Advocated for and helped to design the Capstone Requirement within the General Education Requirements in 1981-82.”

1981-1982: Mr. David J. Wright (Senator, President Pro Tempore) “The ‘toga party’ Senate meeting at the end of the year, passing the budget, being chosen President Pro Tempore by the AS Senate, meeting my fellow Senators and handing an honorarium check to Gore Vidal.”

1981-1983: Mr. George Santiago (Senator 1981, Admin VP 1982-83) “Broke ground on new Student Union; supported expansion of Bulldog Stadium; club funding and Vintage Days.”

1984-1986: Mr. Jeffery W. Hansen (President) “During one of the years I was President, we incorporated the Associated Student Organizations. We developed a program, in cooperation with the Campus Police Department, to escort female students at night to their car or other places on campus.”1984-1987: Mr. Bob Whalen (Admin VP 1984-85, Legislative VP 1985-86, CSSA Chair 1986-87, President 1986-87) “My experience with ASI is all one long, fond memory. If I had to choose, it would be the end-of-the-year picnic. That was when whatever divisions existed among the different ASI representatives melted away and we just acted like regular college kids having a good time hanging out with one another.”

1991-1992: Ms. Mary Helen Montero (Senator) “As a Senator, my fondest memory is the impact of collaborative council among students and staff to achieve tangible diversified representation via the Henry Madden library multi-cultural art project, Peace Garden, multi-cultural ASB Resolution and the founding of multi-cultural Fraternity and Sorority systems. It was an exciting time that began a movement that was overdue for the many who attended Fresno State prior without real cultural representation.”

1994-1995: Mr. SaKong Cha (Senator of the School of Natural Science) “The passionate debates that went on during the meetings. Campaigning during elections. Assisting with funding for the Cesar Chavez statue and Martin L. King bust”

2004-2005: Mr. Brent Hansen (Executive Vice President) “Having the opportunity to work with some of the most driven and engaged students on projects and policies to help make Fresno State a better place. Also, the summer leadership retreats were always a blast!”

2006-2007: Mr. Jerry Carrillo (Student Court Associate Justice) “I will always remember how student organizations like ASI reached out to the community and supported efforts to make the Fresno/Clovis community a better place. Kids Day was a great example of how college students can come together to support Valley Children’s Hospital and help those in need.”

2006-2008: Mr. Josh McDonald (Senator, Chief of Staff) “Retreat 2006: The Senate bonded deeply with each other and with the USU. It’s an experience that produced friendships that I continually leaned on and utilized during my time with ASI.”