40th Anniversary of Lake Tahoe Community College Celebrated

On March 5, 1974, the voters approved the formation of a college district that would serve students on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. For 40 years the Lake Tahoe Community College has been providing higher education for the community, and its successes and growth were honored in a ceremony Wednesday. Community members joined college staff, board members and students at the original location of the college, 2659 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, which is now the home of the Econo Lodge.

Parents had long fought for having a college in the South Lake Tahoe area. Dr. Ted Finkler and a group of citizens led the campaigning which included radio ads featuring the voices of young children in the city. Current Mayor Pro Tem Brooke Laine was one of those children.

Just 20 days after the election the College School Board was sworn in and ready to start the process of having a community college in South Lake Tahoe. Two of the original board members have served since that first day in 1974, Roberta Mason and Dr. Frederick Wenck, Jr. Mason spoke of how they would meet in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District offices, and with the help of the Assistant Superintendent of County Education, they hired Dr. James Duke as the school's first President in September, 1974. At the time, all they had was a post office box so the board handed him the keys, Mason recalled.

The second employee hired was his secretary, Angie Burns. Burns remembered fondly of how her office was in the district office's store room and she had a mouse that would cross over her feet every once in awhile.

Duke had to find a location for the new college. He toured warehouses and empty buildings and then heard that a motel might be available. He found the owner of the Gerkin Motel at his sheep ranch in Australia, so in order to work out the deal, Duke had to speak to him on a party line at odd hours. Once a deal was struck, the motel was turned into classrooms and offices. "We were the only college with restrooms in all staff offices and fireplaces in all classrooms," recalled Duke.

Within one year, Duke and his staff had the structure and policies all in place, 14 full time teachers were hired and they were ready to open by September of 1975.

The first graduating class was in June, 1976 (those students had transferred from other colleges). Two of those original 11 graduates were at Wednesday's event, Jonnie Crawford and Sally Neitling.
Joining them was one of the original faculty members, Peg Kortes.

Current Associated Student Body President Alicia Agnew told those in attendance she was "thankful for the roots and groundwork you've laid out for us."