Julian McPhee, the high school vocational education teacher who became president of Cal Poly universities
There are many stories of talented high school teachers who work their way up into positions in universities. This is true of Julian McPhee, a high school vocational education teacher who eventually became the president of the California Polytechnic University system.
Julian was born in San Francisco on February 7, 1896. His parents were immigrants from Canada. After his graduation from high school, Julian enrolled at University of California at Berkeley, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture. While still working on his undergraduate degree, Julian inaugurated his career as an educator by teaching a course in agricultural education at Pomona High School in Pomona, a suburb of Los Angeles.
During the waning months of World War I, Julian enlisted in the US Navy, where he served as an ensign. While in the service, he worked as an instructor at the naval port guard and as an aide in Naval Intelligence. In 1918, at the conclusion of the Great War, Julian was given an honorable discharge.
After the war, Julian returned to the San Francisco area, where he accepted a position as a teacher of agriculture at Gilroy High School in Gilroy, Santa Clara County, California. During his many years as a high school educator, Julian strongly emphasized vocational education, particularly in the fields of agriculture. An advocate of hands-on learning, he formed clubs for agriculture and mechanics in each one of Gilroy’s public schools.
In 1928, Julian completed the requirements for his Master’s degree in Agricultural Education through the University of California at Los Angeles. Between 1926 and 1944, he worked as the chief of the State Bureau of Agricultural Education. In this capacity, he formed the California state headquarters of Future Farmers of America.
In 1933, Julian was selected president of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. There he converted the struggling school from a two-year technical school to a full-fledged four-year university in the CSU system.
When World War II broke out, Julian served as the director of California’s War Food Production Training Program. Later he served as acting chief of the Bureau of Readjustment Education, the Assistant Executive Officer of the State Board of Vocational Education, and the director of Vocational Education for the State of California. He also oversaw the founding of newly-built Cal Poly Pomona.
By 1966, Julian could claim 33 years as the president of the Cal Poly system. But because of deteriorating health, he decided to retire. Sadly, this amazing educator passed away of colon cancer on November 10, 1967. He was 71 years old.
