Obituaries : Fred Olds; Formed USC Support Group

Fred B. Olds, who formed what is believed to be the first off-campus support group for USC when he founded the Century Club in the early 1950s, died Saturday at his Tustin home.

The 1924 graduate of the USC School of Dentistry was 97.

In 1955 Olds conceived of a fund-raising plan in which 100 alumni would give $100 each year to help support the School of Dentistry. Thus the Century Club was born, and Olds became its first president. The club now has 1,400 members who have contributed more than $4 million over the years.

Earlier, Olds, who is survived by his wife, Peggy, had helped raise money for a new dental clinic.

For years, the university has honored “the man or woman whose service to USC has been extraordinary” with the Fred B. Olds Support Group Award. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to the USC School of Dentistry, University Park, Los Angeles 90089.