Several UVTO residents share a cherished history with nearby California Lutheran University. Let's meet them!
LUCY BALLARD served the University for thirty-five years, most of them as Director of Health and Counseling Services. She began as a nurse in 1969, became Director in 1972, took a brief leave of absence for a two-year stay in Saudi Arabia with her Air Force husband, Jake, and returned to CLU to serve until her retirement. Of her several recognitions, dearest to Lucy's heart is the Inspiration Award in 1980. She was designated Honorary Alumna in 1996 and Nurse Emerita in 2005. Lucy started a healing ministry at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and participated in other church and community service - all while raising 6 children!
SIRI ELIASON emigrated with her husband in 1960 to
Los Angeles and both embarked on business careers. Her tenure as Regent at CLU spanned 1994-2003, and included being Chair from 1998-2001. Siri is a leader of local American-Scandinavian organizations which preserve, promote and honor the Scandinavian cultural heritage. Examples include the Scandinavian Festival each April at CLU and the
Scandinavian Center, a gathering place on the CLU campus, still among Siri’s numerous commitments. Her appointment and service as Honorary Consul General of Sweden was a lifetime highlight.
JIM ESMAY a "country boy from Montana," earned degrees at Montana State University and U. of Illinois. First at Cal State Northridge, then at Cal Lutheran, his economics classes included entrepreneurship and the development of emerging countries, leading to becoming a Fulbright professor to students at the University of Swaziland and Botswana in Africa. As Dean of the CLU School of Business, Jim traveled to some sixty countries. He is still an adventurous traveler, having visited the world's major waterfalls, except Iguassu; and with Habitat for Humanity he participated in building a home on stilts in Papua, New Guinea.
NORM LUECK graduated from U. of Minnesota in civil engineering and first worked for the Republic Steel Corporation. One assignment meant reducing the staff by two thirds. His sensitive management of this task attracted the attention of the Lutheran Church of America, which employed Norm as a stewardship consultant. Later, he became Synod controller and, in 1982, Vice President of Advancement and Development at CLU. His successful capital campaign brought in the University's first $1,000,000 gift, leading in time to today's campus expansion. Norm spent 39 1/2 years in the Marine Air Reserve, accumulating 12,000 hours of flight time.
TOM MAXWELL has presented two lecture series at UV - "What Is Anthropology?" and "Culture of the Chumash Indians." Holding a PhD from Indiana University, Tom spent nine years at Inter American University, Puerto Rico, as professor of anthropology and as Dean for two years. Moving to Cal Lutheran in 1965, he built a home on the campus, which became a wildlife preserve. While Tom served as Chair of Anthropology and Sociology, he and his wife offered a "bed and breakfast" in a program for university visitors. Tom now concentrates on writing his autobiography - currently he is on Chapter 110!