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The Famous Lighthouse that Almost Came to Pepperdine

The Famous Lighthouse that Almost Came to Pepperdine

Regular travelers on the Pacific Coast Highway between Santa Monica and Malibu will noticed that the entrance to Will Rogers State Beach bears a small replica lighthouse. What observers may not know is that the replica references an actual lighthouse that stood on that spot for over four decades, complementing the famously picturesque Pacific Palisades coastline. Lesser known still is the story of how that lighthouse nearly became a permanent fixture on Pepperdine University’s Malibu campus in an effort to save it from demolition. (More…)

Pepperdine during World War II: Remembering “On the Beam”

Pepperdine during World War II: Remembering “On the Beam”

In September of 1944, as Allied efforts in World War II neared crescendo, George Pepperdine College (GPC) reported 350 students in service to the nation. Total enrollment at the time was only 418. Many students, such as basketball star June Tuggle, put their education on hold to serve in the armed forces. As a labor of love, GPC basketball coach Al O. Duer started a monthly newsletter called On the Beam in order to maintain communications with GPC students and alumni serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Second World War. Carrying the motto “Dedicated to Young Pepperdiners in the Service,” the newsletter ran from June 1943 to at least January 1946…