PLNU Athletics

Don McCaleb came to Pasadena College in 1955 with experience in the Air Force and as the west coast office manager for Billy Graham film operations. The timing was exquisite; PC basketball had swept everyone into a fever and media requirements were becoming sophisticated and demanding. Up until then, PC had hitch-hiked on the volunteer services of students, fans and the tremendous ability of the “Firehouse Five” to gain publicity for the school.

McCaleb became the first person hired specifically to promote athletics through sports information services and the results were dramatic. The Los Angeles area sports were beginning to knock each other out as they vied for media attention and publicity was hard to come by. Through the continued high quality play of the basketball team, which had acquired Jim Bond, and the ingenuity of McCaleb, PC received what other colleges no doubt considered a disproportionate amount of attention.

Quick to seize any good idea, McCaleb developed the nickname of “Gentleman Jim” for Bond. Many believe it was through McCaleb’s promotion that Bond received Southern California Athlete of the Month Awards and the 1956 National AAU “Most Promising Player Award.” McCaleb was also instrumental in connecting Bond with offers to join ameatuer basketball teams and to try out for the 1956 Olympic basketball team.

PLNU will continue to cherish the media guides constructed by McCaleb which contain the school’s records, stats and player profiles.

McCaleb was presented with the Meritorious Service Award by Sam Mallicoat.