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President's Medallion honoree Bill McGarvey Jr. was all smiles when he celebrated his 90th birthday on campus recently, surrounded by family members and friends, including many university well-wishers.

Caption:  Senior theatre arts major Casey Canino serenades Bill McGarvey Jr. with "Bill" from the musical "Showboat" during the arts patron's birthday celebration. Photos by Patrick O’Donnell Download Photo

Alongside Bill McGarvey Jr., Abby Hankins portrays the coquettish Amy of the song "Once in Love With Amy,” sung by Mark Bartlett (off camera, play video). Both students are senior theatre arts majors in the musical theatre program. Download Photo

Birthday honoree Bill McGarvey Jr. is flanked by Elsa and Paul Dunlap, founder of the Dunlap Property Group, and Sueling Chen, principal of Fullerton's Arborland Montessori Children's Academy. Download Photo

About 60 attendees gathered in the university's William J. McGarvey Family Dance Studio to mark the occasion with the retired businessman, who made his name as a Fullerton Realtor, volunteer and generous donor to Cal State Fullerton, as well as numerous other institutions and causes in the community.

"Bill's commitment and dedication to California State University, Fullerton began more than 44 years ago when he took a very active role in the formation of the then Friends of the College and served as its founding president," said CSUF President Milton A. Gordon, who addressed the gathering.

Gordon had presented McGarvey with the President's Medallion during Commencement ceremonies in 1994, in recognition of his "exceptional achievements and activities of distinction that have enhanced the image, prestige and quality of higher education" at the university. He and the late Leo Shapiro are the only two ever to have been accorded the distinction.

"Bill's dedication and caring have become legend and an inspiration to others who attempt to emulate him but never can quite reach the pinnacle of excellence that Bill has achieved," Gordon noted.

McGarvey has advised all four CSUF presidents through his 36 years of service on the University Advisory Board, including stints as vice chair. In addition, he provided town-and-gown leadership for the CSU system, serving as chairman of the Chancellor's Advisory Council from 1970-74.

"His cogent ideas always helped the presidents to make decisions on what was in the best interest of the community and the university," said Norma Morris, staff assistant to the CSUF president.

Wrapping up his remarks at the celebration, James D. Young, founding chair of the university's Theatre and Dance Department, said: "Bill, you are Mr. Education, and you have made all of these presidents at Cal State Fullerton really look good."

"It's all true," said McGarvey, drawing applause and laughter when asked to address attendees, following the accolades. McGarvey recalled introducing himself in 1959 to founding campus president, William B. Langsdorf, and asking what he could do to help.

"Anybody you hire, we'd be glad to show them the community, tell them where the churches are, where the schools are, why this is a good place to go to work," he recalled saying to Langsdorf, adding, "of course, I got a commission on each one, too."

Other attendees paying tribute included: event host Joe Arnold, dean of the CSUF College of the Arts, who led the birthday toast; Barbara Giasone, retired staff writer for the Fullerton News Tribune and Orange County Register; and McGarvey's younger son and CSUF alumnus, Patrick McGarvey (B.A. communications '85).

Well-wishers included dance majors who stopped by to thank McGarvey for helping to make possible the dance studios in the Clayes Performing Arts Center, followed by theatre and dance majors who performed a short program of Broadway show tunes, under the direction of Mitch Hanlon, professor of theatre and dance.

Their song list included "Bill" from the musical "Showboat," performed by Casey Canino; McGarvey's favorite, "Once in Love With Amy," from "Where's Charley?" performed by Mark Bartlett; and Micaela Martinez, singing "And This is My Beloved from "Kismet."

The William J. McGarvey Family Dance Studio was packed to capacity for the event. "Due to space constraints, hundreds of people who Bill calls friends were not able to be included," said Milly Heaton, director of development for the College of the Arts, who already has penciled in a date for celebrating McGarvey's 91st birthday.

Caption: Event host Joe Arnold, dean of the CSUF College of the Arts, left, led the birthday toast to honor Bill McGarvey Jr. on the occasion his 90th birthday, celebrated with family and fiends in the university's William J. McGarvey Family Dance Studio. Photo by Patrick O’Donnell  Download Photo

Dec. 6, 2011