Biographical Note

Bert Dotson, born in Eugene in 1923, was assistant to the president, 1964-1982. Prior to 1964 he had graduated from Eugene High School, received a B.S. in Architecture and Allied Arts from University of Oregon in 1951, and in 1961 completed a Masters in General Studies and a Masters in Education also from University of Oregon. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, with active service in Europe, during which he progressed from private to first sergeant.

Dotson worked as an instructor at Springfield High School from 1951 to 1957 and then as dean of boys until 1959 when he was appointed curriculum supervisor for the Springfield Schoool District. From 1963 to 1964 he was the district director of research and publications for the Springfield School District.

In February of 1964 Dotson was appointed executive secretary of a community college study committee and charged with paving the way for a ballot measure that could create Lane Community College. He took charge of a public relations campaign intended to convince local citizens of the importance and usefulness of, and need for, a community college. In the fall elections of 1964 voters approved the idea of LCC.

The first LCC Board of Education appointed Dotson the college's first administrative assistant. He worked to create the first budget, find classroom space, hire staff and faculty, and select the college's first president, Dale Parnell. Dotson was also instrumental in the passage of a $10 million bond levy and serial levy and the acquisition of matching state funds for the construction of the LCC campus on East 30th Ave. Dotson continued in his position as LCC administrative assistant / assistant to the president until 1982, working under four presidents.

Biographical Note

Dale Parnell was educated at Willamette University (B.A., 1951) and at the University of Oregon (M.Ed., 1956, D.Ed., 1964) and served as principal of Springfield High School and superintendent of Lane Intermediate Education District. He was instrumental in founding Lane Community College and served as its first president from 1965-1968. He was appointed Oregon superintendent of public instruction in 1968 by Governor Tom McCall.

In 1974 he became chancellor of San Diego Community College and in 1976 he became president of San Joaquin Delta Community College. He was president of the American Association of Community College from 1981-1991, followed by a year as Oregon's community college commissioner.

He helped establish the Western Center for Community College Development at Oregon State University in 1992 where he taught before retiring in 1997. Since then he has been a visiting professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa. His many publications include the book, The Neglected Majority, published in 1985.