Forney, Eugene J. Division of Auxiliary and Business Services Collection

About Eugene J. Forney (1930- ). Eugene J. Forney was born on January 19, 1930 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Forney attended Loyola University of Los Angeles, now Loyola Marymount University from 1953 to 1958 earning his BBA (Bachelor's of Business Administration) in Industrial Relations. Previous to earning his degree, he served in the United States Air Force as a member of the Air Force Band and was sent to Edwards Air Force Base in California. He also had duties managing the personnel office of the Base Chapel. He was discharged as Staff Sergeant in August of 1953. Forney married his wife, Leora Louise Forney in 1954 and has eight children.

From 1954-1964, Forney worked in local industries, including as a Senior Buyer at United ElectroDynamic in Pomona, California before his career in the Office of the Chancellor at The California State University. During his twenty-eight year career in the Office of the Chancellor, Forney worked in the Division of Business and Auxiliary Services from April 1964 until his retirement in December 1992. He progressed in his responsibilities and functions beginning as an Assistant Administrative Analyst and departing as a Business Services Specialist. When Forney began at the California State University Office of the Chancellor, the department was named the Business Affairs Auxiliary Operations Planning Division, later called the Division of Business and Auxiliary Affairs. Currently, The Contract Services and Procurement Office (CSP) operates as the procurement office within the Division of Business and Finance, and the Auxiliary Organizations Office operates separately from the Division. After his retirement, Forney remained active in the California State University Procurement and Support Services Officers meetings.

About The California State University. The California State University System was formally established in 1960 by the Donahoe Higher Education Act. It is the nation’s largest university system, with 23 campuses. The CSU is one of three public higher education systems in the state of California (the others are the University of California and the California Community College System). The System is the direct descendant of the California State Normal School (now, San Jose State University) established by the California Legislature on May 2, 1862. By 1895 there were four State Normal schools. In 1921, the schools were re-named the State Teacher’s Schools. In 1935 the colleges were re-named the California State Colleges and were run by the State Department of Education. With the California Master Plan for higher education was created along with the Donohue Act, the California State Colleges were placed under control of the CSC Board of Trustees. In 1972 the system was renamed the California State Colleges and Universities. The term "Colleges" was dropped in 1982. Responsibility for the California State University is vested in the Board of Trustees, whose members are appointed by the Governor of the State of California. The Trustees appoint the Chancellor, who is the chief executive officer of the system, and the Presidents, who are the chief executive officers of their respective campuses. The Academic Senate of the California State University, made up of elected representatives of the faculty from each campus, recommends academic policy to the Board of Trustees through the Chancellor. Chancellors of the system include Buell Gallagher (1961-1962); Glenn S. Dumke (1962-1982); W. Ann Reynolds (1982-1990); Ellis E. McCune [Acting] (1990-1991); Barry Munitz (1991-1998); Charles B. Reed (1998-2012); and Timothy White (2012-present).