96-Year-Old WWII Veteran Becomes USC's Oldest Graduate

LOS ANGELES, CA Seventy years after his first day of classes at the University of California, 96-year-old Alfonso Gonzales is graduating today.

The World War II veteran is now the oldest graduate in USC history.

Gonzales will receive a bachelor of science degree in zoology, a degree the university stopped deferring years ago. But when Gonzalez, who thought he had graduated in 1953, found out he was one unit shy of a degree, he was determined to earn his degree.

“He just said, ‘I’ll do whatever USC says I need to do to get my degree,’” his nephew Mario Gonzales told USC News.

The university was on board. Professors decided to craft a one-unit independent study course just for Gonzalez. The USC Davis School of Gerontology helped design the course, featuring video, reading assignments and visits to gerontology classes on the topic of autobiographies and how people recast their own stories across lifespans.

"What he's doing is setting an incredibly positive example for other adults in America and around the world," said Pinchas Cohen, dean of the USC Davis School of Gerontology. "He embodies the fact that learning opportunities never stop. People can develop new skills and grow at any age."

Like many in his generation, Gonzalez started college as a combat veteran. A graduate of Redondo Union High School, Gonzales enlisted, and was deployed to Japan as a U.S. Marine Corps medic treating the wounded in the field.

“I was just an ordinary GI; I wasn’t a hero or anything,” he told USC News.

According to the university, Gonzales -- the first person in his family to attend college -- started at USC in 1947. He began his career while still enrolled, juggling work and study. Eventually work won out, making him miss what he thought would be his graduation day in 1953. Gonzales started a soil company called Compo-Loam in 1953. He ran the company for 55 years, retiring in 2008 at age 88.

As part of his one-unit coursework, Gonzales spoke to gerentology students about the dangers of smoking -- a habit he kicked in 1980 -- and gave them advice on healthy living, and encouraged them to take advantage of their education.

He noted how many more women are USC Trojans now compared to when he first set foot on campus in 1947.

"Don't forget that you're going to be our future leaders," Gonzales told the students. "You're needed in our society. You'll change America -- but don't change it too much. We've got something nice here."

He also reminded them of the true value of education.

“I enjoyed coming to USC, and I enjoyed the atmosphere of knowledge,” he said. “Knowledge is intrinsic, and that can never be taken away from you.”

City News Service contributed to this report, Photo by Gus Ruelas courtesy of USC.