Donald R. Gerth, former Dominguez Hills president, influential figure in the CSU system, dies at 93

Donald R. Gerth, a erstwhile president of Cal State Dominguez Hills and an influential fig successful the CSU strategy for 5 decades, has died. He was 93.

Gerth died Monday evening, Dec. 6, astatine his location successful Carmichael, according to an obituary released by Cal State Dominguez Hills. No origin of decease was given.

Gerth, who served arsenic the second-ever president of CSUDH and aboriginal became the longest-serving president successful Cal State Sacramento’s history, near an indelible people connected some schools done his accelerated enlargement of field facilities, programs and curriculum.

The U.S. Air Force veteran’s bequest includes championing acquisition equality, transforming Dominguez Hills into a assemblage and expanding Sacramento State’s grade offerings. He was besides a household man, beloved by those successful his clan, his daughter, Deborah Hougham, said.

“Few individuals are arsenic inextricably tied to the CSU – and person truthful wonderfully lived retired the university’s highest ideals – arsenic Donald R. Gerth,” said CSU Chancellor Joseph I. Castro. “Don’s was a beingness well-lived, and his affirmative interaction connected Cal State faculty, staff, and alumni has and volition proceed to span generations.”

Donald Rodgers Gerth was calved Dec. 4, 1928, successful Chicago to parents George C. and Madeleine Gerth.

Raised during the Great Depression, Gerth began moving arsenic a teen — arsenic a footwear salesman, a alloy mill idiosyncratic and an insurance-rating clerk. He dropped retired of precocious schoolhouse and enrolled astatine the University of Chicago astatine the property of 16.

Gerth earned his bachelor’s grade successful wide arts successful 1947 erstwhile helium was 18 years old, followed by a master’s grade successful governmental subject successful 1951. Gerth aboriginal completed a doctoral grade successful governmental subject successful 1963.

But aft receiving his master’s, Gerth enlisted successful the U.S. Air Force, serving arsenic a Southeast Asian specialist. He oversaw assorted quality operations and managed payroll finances — earning the nickname “The Bagman” among troops portion stationed successful the Philippines, according to an obituary posted by Sacramento State.

Gerth met Beverly Jean Hollman, his woman of 66 years, portion stationed astatine Scott Air Force Base adjacent Belleville, Illinois. They joined successful 1955.

Gerth’s committedness to acquisition continued during his clip successful the Air Force: He served arsenic a prof astatine the University of the Philippines until helium was discharged from the work arsenic a skipper successful 1956.

In 1958, Gerth near his hometown and headed westbound to articulation the California State Colleges strategy — a precursor to the CSU — arsenic an subordinate dean of students for admissions. Gerth simultaneously took connected a occupation arsenic a records and authorities teacher astatine San Francisco State University.

In 1964, Gerth joined Chico State College; helium stayed determination 12 years, serving successful assorted positions, including dean of students and vice president of world affairs.

Gerth was appointed president of Dominguez Hills successful 1976. One twelvemonth into Gerth’s statesmanlike tenure, helium helped the university, adjacent Carson, modulation from its presumption arsenic a California State College to a California State University.

Throughout his decade-long stint arsenic president, Gerth oversaw the operation of the campus’ archetypal pupil lodging complex, the Toro Gymnasium and swimming pool, the Student Health Center, LaCorte Hall, and the University Theater.

Gerth was instrumental successful bringing the 1984 Summer Olympics biking contention to the campus, signing an statement to location the Velodrome Stadium. He besides brought the CSU Archives to the university, wherever they are inactive housed.

“Dr. Gerth’s power connected CSUDH cannot beryllium overstated,” said existent field President Thomas A. Parham. “He was instrumental successful helping the instauration attain assemblage status, and his interaction astatine CSUDH continues to beryllium felt and appreciated by everyone who steps onto the campus.”

Sacramento State University hired Gerth successful 1984. He went connected to go the longest-serving president successful the university’s past — holding the station until 2003.

Gerth championed acquisition equality. He added classes successful high-demand clip blocks and offered students escaped internet. Sacramento State’s enrollment accrued from 22,000 to 28,000 during his tenure and the university’s Latino and Asian pupil populations doubled.

Under Gerth’s watch, Sacramento State besides established a master’s grade successful nationalist policy, the archetypal bundle engineering master’s programme astatine a nationalist assemblage successful California and a associated doctoral programme with UC Santa Barbara.

Other contributions Gerth made includes establishing the School of Arts and the Office of Research, postgraduate and extended studies; expanding the field by 1.2 cardinal quadrate feet, and investing $100 cardinal successful gathering and installation modernization; and creating the Center for California Studies — garnering Sacramento State important visibility arsenic California’s Capitol university.

“With the loving enactment of his wife, Bev, who actively served alongside him, President Emeritus Gerth transformed Sacramento State,” said existent field president Robert S. Nelsen. “He loved Sacramento State and the CSU. His interaction connected our field and the strategy arsenic a full is unquantifiable.”

Following Gerth’s 45-year career, helium became a salient writer and historiographer of nationalist acquisition and the CSU system.

Gerth penned galore articles exploring nationalist policy’s impacts connected higher acquisition and authored “The People’s University: A History of the California State University” successful 2010 — a astir 700-page monolith chronicling the maturation of the CSU strategy since its inception successful the years aft the Gold Rush.

He besides continued championing the CSU’s archives. In 2018, Gerth and his woman donated $300,000 to Sacramento State’s archives truthful that they could beryllium made public. In return, the schoolhouse renamed the postulation aft the Gerths. The archives astatine CSUDH are besides named successful their honor.

“Dr. Gerth was an progressive subordinate of the CSU assemblage for implicit 50 years,” said Greg Williams, manager of the Gerth Archives and Special Collections astatine CSUDH. “Everyone astatine the assemblage owes him a indebtedness of gratitude for the bequest helium created present for students, module and staff.”

Gerth is survived by his wife, Beverly Gerth; their daughters, Annette Schofield and Deborah Ann Hougham; Hougham’s husband, Harold Hougham; 5 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations whitethorn beryllium made to the President Emeritus Donald R. Gerth Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Gerth household said successful a statement.

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