USC’s $557-Million Drive to Fund-Raising Goal Line

Private universities, in order to succeed, must be risk takers--not just for any one university, but for the good of the country and the world. That’s what George T. Scharffenberger, chairman of USC’s board of trustees and a man who logs 500,000 miles annually traveling, told the 800 assembled the other evening for black-tie festivities at Cromwell Field on the campus.

With that, Carl E. Hartnack, chairman of the Leadership for the 21st Century national fund-raising campaign, revealed that USC is engaged officially in a drive to raise $557 million by 1990--the largest campaign in the history of higher education. Footnote to that, however: USC’s campaign is the largest announced to date. Columbia is closing out a $500-million campaign; Johns Hopkins announced a $450-million campaign in 1984, and Stanford, reportedly, is trying to figure out a discreet way to campaign for $1 billion.

It all brought fireworks to the eyes (a magnificent array of whirls and swirls and the USC logo emblazoned in the sky for a finale), music to the ears (Arthur C. Bartner directing the USC Trojan Marching Band), food for thought (Rococo Custom Catering’s inevitable feast), and pomp (the USC Naval ROTC midshipman officers held a sword arch for the grand entrance of guests).

But, the piece de resistance came when Hartnack announced that Gen. and Mrs. William Lyon had decided to present USC with $6.5 million. Lyon is the Orange County home builder (the largest in California) and the chairman and chief executive of AirCal. He was chief of the Air Force Reserve between 1975-79, and he attended USC in 1941, went to war, returned in 1946, was a commercial pilot, returned to duty in the Korean War, then became a contractor. He’s a man who answers a question directly, and is also excited about his efforts to help build Orangewood, a home for abused and abandoned children) and his efforts to help with Rancho Margarita, a Catholic high school, even though he’s not a Catholic.

His talented wife, Willa Dean (“My grandmother named me for a schoolteacher”), involved, too, in home-building, was at his side, wearing a Galanos black-and-white suit and David Webb black enamel and diamond necklace and earrings.

USC President James Zumberge talked about surpassing the goal; already $207 million has been raised in gifts and pledges.

Lots of USC trustees were in the crowd, including Dr. Edward Zapanta and his wife, Norene, who sat with Dr. Cornelius Pings and his wife, Marjorie, and with John Davis Jr., president of the Alumni Assn., and his wife, Alice. More were Jack and Betty Horton, John and Pam King, Kathleen and Tom McCarthy, the Fred W. O’Greens, the Ronald S. Orrs, Jane Hoffman Popovich and Kris Popovich, Lorna and Charles Reed.

David Wolper, there with his pretty wife, Gloria, told the crowd: “In 1940 (when he was a student), we didn’t have sexual freedom; we had a winning football team.” The crowd seemed to appreciate that.

Margie Grossman was in the black-and-white dotted Swiss dress she once wore to a Mayfield prom. Suzy Crowell wore her Cahill white Las Madrinas debutante dress with satin and seed pearls. Harriet Plunkett was in “perfect rhinestones” and husband, Bill, in her father’s 1920s black vest. Tillie Collins was a mother superior, running about putting safety pins in gowns where too much decolletage was revealed; Debby Hollingsworth was one of her victims. Sue Burnett wore a 1925 Patou with a headband.

Patty Burschinger donned a bridesmaid’s dress of quarter-century old vintage. Maxine Havens wore her gown when she was a princess at the Carnival Ball in Memphis--and her husband, Jack, was her escort. Kaholyn McKissick wore her pretty tulle prom dress from Anna Head School. Co-chairman Sallie Colmery, there with husband, Harry, was in a summer formal (they won the silent auction bid for Peggy Phelps’ condo at Sun Valley) and co-chair Katie Tuerk was in the prettiest peau de soie tissue taffeta dancing a jig all evening with physical fitness expert George Tuerk.

Dr. Allen Mathies Jr., president and chief executive officer of Huntington Memorial Hospital, and his wife, Weta, were especially pleased, because this “senior prom” was the first major fund-raiser for the hospital, and it went well--more than $210,000 net.

It was a night for Clark Keen and the Twist, the Huntington Hop, the Hokey Pokey, the Charleston, even “Goodnight Sweetheart.”

Enjoying it all were Henry (he in a wig) and Ginie (she patched her dress at the zipper to suggest spread), James Fullerton, the Stafford Gradys, the Daniel Foleys, Dr. Lawrence and Mireya Jones, John and Jeanie Cushman, and John and Gini Cushman (both Johns are Phi Gamma Deltas), David and Annabelle Dahl, Hannah and Russel Kully, Char and Paul Vert, Susan and Bruce Seidel, Mikie and Murray Marsh, Dorothy and John Shea, Kingston and Veva McKee, Jill and Malcolm Smith, George and Ann Riordan, Sue and Stephen Chandler, Harriet and Jim Gambell, Richard and Tracy Hirrel, Cynthia and Terry Peruca, and Kate and Joe Reagan.

More were Anita and Tony Garnier, Bill and Barbara Klove, Robert and Louisa Miller, Harry and Judith McLaughlin, Dean and Joan Schneider, Jack and Pat Peutet, Davis and Patty Pillsbury, Harry Montgomery, Social Security Commissioner Dorcas Hardy with Bill Dahl, caterer John Mathies with Rebecca Lewis, and Bill and Lisa Mathies. All the men got boutonnieres, and a few of gentlemen, like Mathies, remembered to order the carnation corsage. One for the scrapbook.

Past Tense:

Official count was 1,223 for the Palm Springs Desert Museum’s opening members’ reception, according to Mort Golden, director. . . .

The Jane Wyman Humanitarian Award Dinner, honoring Century City attorney Philip S. Magaram, raised more than $200,000, including a $150,000 gift from the Joseph Drown Foundation, to fund research projects of the Southern California Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. . . .

The Thomas V. Joneses of Northrop hosted a small dinner to honor Berlin Mayor Eberhard Diepgen during his visit. Among guests were U.S. Ambassador Richard Burt and his wife, Gahl (former White House social secretary); Caroline Ahmanson; Gen. James Lindberg; Guilford and Diane Glazer; Edmonde and Harriett Haddadd; Earle and Marion Jorgensen; James and Ingeburg Miscoll; Fred and Mildred O’Green; Allen and Marilyn Puckett; Norman and Earlenne Sprague; Jimmy and Gloria Stewart; the Donn Tatums and the Harold Williamses. . . .

David and Dona Schultz of Pasadena hosted a dinner party to honor John and Anna Currie of Edinburgh. He’s the music director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, who will begin his first season Nov. 8 with the Verdi “Requiem.” The Curries have opted for a Pasadena abode. . . .

Juanita Kamm was at the helm seaside at the Bel-Air Bay Club this week for the National Charity League Los Angeles chapter luncheon featuring Julie Johnston, director of development for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. . . .

Gary L. Pudney, ABC Entertainment vice president, had a fashionable crowd for cocktails and dinner at Spago honoring Tommy Hilfiger, celebrating the opening of his Rodeo Drive boutique in Beverly Hills. . . .

When the Pasadena Mental Health Center celebrated its 21st birthday, it also announced the creation of the Anne B. Kennedy Recognition Award. It will be given for a lasting contribution in the field of community mental health. . . .

The National Hispanic Scholarship Fund dinner at the Century Plaza, with Steve Allen as master of ceremonies, honored Frank Cruz, vice president of KVEA-TV, as Hispanic of the Year and gave the Corporate Achievement Award to Northrop Corp. for support of the Latino community. . . .

Eleanor and Jim Wilson launched fall for 50 friends with brunch at the Beach Club. . . .

The Westside Hispanic Council honored the board of Venice Family Clinic with a Mexican Tardeada (fiesta) at the home of Arthur and Pamela Leeds. . . .

Trustees of Pacific Oaks College touted their Pacific Oaks Associates and celebrated the opening of the Pacific Oaks Research Center this week. The reception was at the campus. Dinner followed at the home of Alexander and Adelaide Hixon. . . .

Barbara Factor Bentley, trustee of the Max Factor Family Foundation, and Lesley H. Howe, Anne Wendt, Dr. Lee Yudin and Wm. J. F. Francis participated in dedication ceremonies of the Max Factor Family Foundation House at the United Cerebral Palsy/Spastic Children’s Foundation’s Caro Hatcher Habilitation Center in Chatsworth. The foundation gave $300,000, the Keck Foundation a supportive $50,000.