W. Roy Newsom; Former President of Whittier College

W. Roy Newsom, 82, who served as president of Whittier College from 1975 to 1979. Brought up on a citrus ranch in Rivera, Calif., Newsom was educated at Whittier High School and Whittier College. His friendship with a classmate, Richard Nixon, ultimately led to the establishment of the Richard M. Nixon Collection for the college’s Bonnie Bell Wardman Library. Newsom earned his master’s and doctorate at USC and in 1949 began his 40-year career at Whittier as a chemistry professor. In 1963 he moved into administration as dean, and from 1971 until 1975 served as vice president for administration. At his retirement, Newsom was honored by the establishment of the Alice and W. Roy Newsom Chair in the college’s natural sciences department. On July 8 in Whittier of a heart attack.