As I Remember: George Couper

Interview with Couper, who served on Cal Poly's Agriculture faculty from 1931-1965. Couper was also involved in the Future Farmers of America, Cal Poly's Kellogg-Voorhis campus (later Cal Poly Pomona), and the California Bureau of Agricultural Education. [00:00:08] As I Remember Opening [00:00:26] Couper recalls being picked, along with three others, by Julian McPhee in 1931 to be part of Cal Poly's agriculture program and discusses each person's roles [00:01:51] Couper discusses the addition of other personnel in 1932 and each person's respective roles [00:02:42] Couper describes the "old gang," which formed the nucleus of the agriculture faculty [00:03:07] Couper describes what he did to carry out McPhee's plans in the fall of 1931, which included "presenting to the public a good image of the Future Farmers of America" and "presenting a good image of Cal Poly" [00:04:02] Couper recalls making movies of the Future Farmers of America programs in California in the spring of 1932 [00:04:20] Couper describes when McPhee came down to Cal Poly to run it in 1933 [00:05:17] Couper talks about his experience in teaching classes at Cal Poly [00:05:57] Couper talks about what terminated his teaching responsibilities in 1936 [00:06:46] Couper recalls serving as public relations head for several national Future Farmers conventions [00:07:32] Couper describes the absence of limitations in his work [00:09:10] Couper talks about his involvement with the legislature [00:10:28] Couper describes the events that took place at Cal Poly in 1938, which include acquisition of the Voorhis unit, Leopold E. Rassi's fund to help needy students at Cal Poly, and the setting up of a degree transfer with UC Davis [00:13:00] Couper describes the acquisition of the Voorhis unit in greater detail [00:14:33] Couper describes the "PR aspect" of the situation with Rassi [00:15:57] Couper discusses balancing his work and keeping up with McPhee [00:16:43] Couper recalls his unusual experience with a train [00:18:20] Couper recalls when the State Board of Education gave Cal Poly the right to grant a bachelor's degree in 1940 [00:21:25] Couper describes when Robert E. Kennedy came to Cal Poly and assumed some of the former's previous responsibilities in 1940 [00:22:23] Couper recalls his professional reaction when World War II broke out [00:23:01] Couper describes how he aided in the war effort [00:24:32] Couper describes how the emphasis of his work changed when McPhee gave up his position as chief of the State Bureau of Agriculture Education in 1944 [00:25:19] Couper recalls how he worked with McPhee when the latter became the state director of vocational education [00:25:43] Couper recalls being called on to do various tasks at Cal Poly [00:26:16] Couper recalls taking a large group of California Future Farmers to the national convention for the first time in 1946 [00:26:55] Couper talks about his involvement with the acquisition of the Kellogg property [00:27:28] Couper describes in greater detail the "PR aspect" of the acquisition of the Kellogg Property [00:28:28] Couper describes when the Bureau of Agriculture headquarters moved back to Sacramento in 1953 [00:29:09] Couper recalls his final year at Cal Poly: 1964-65 [00:30:10] Couper describes what he did during his retirement [00:31:14] As I Remember Closing