In his 2009 memoir, Black Warriors: The Buffalo Soldiers of World War II, Ivan Houston, BS 48, chronicles his experience with the Jim Crow rules of the American military while serving in the segregated 92nd Infantry Division during World War II. At the 2010 Haas Homecoming celebration, Houston will share his story with the Cal community at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9, at Andersen Auditorium. All are invited.
The day begins at 10:30 a.m. with Houston’s 45-minute presentation and audience Q&A. Attendees will learn more about the post-war experiences of Houston, a Cal letterman track and field runner, who returned to Berkeley with a Purple Heart and his bride, Phillippa, to be denied married student housing because they were black.
After graduating from business school, Houston worked as an accountant for Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Co., which was co-founded by his father, also a Cal alumnus. Houston retired as CEO in 1990, after helping Golden State Mutual become one of the country’s largest black-owned companies. Houston also chaired the Golden State Minority Foundation, a philanthropic spin-off that has awarded more than $2.4 million in scholarships and grants to educational programs and students of color. Along the way, Houston was named among Harvard’s Business Leaders of the 20th Century and included in Ebony magazine’s “100 Most Influential Black Americans” list for 14 years.
After Houston's talk, the Homecoming celebration will continue with Dean Rich Lyons in the Haas courtyard for a pre-game tailgating party featuring food, drinks, live music, and special activities for kids. The tailgating is scheduled to begin 2 ½ hours before kickoff. Game time for the Cal vs. UCLA matchup will be announced no later than Monday, Oct. 4.
The Haas Alumni Network has partnered with Cal Athletics to provide a Haas School reserved seating area, where you will be surrounded by your classmates, family, and friends to watch Cal beat UCLA. These reserved seats are available for $55 each, not including Cal Athletics fees, and can be mailed directly to your home. Purchase your tickets early as the game will sell out. To register for Haas Homecoming events and to purchase reserved football tickets visit haas.berkeley.edu/alumni/homecoming.