J. Douglas Pardee

Honorary Degrees
 
 

J. Douglas PardeeJ. Douglas Pardee

Philanthropist/Businessman

California State University, San Marcos

A long-time supporter of higher education, J. Douglas Pardee's life exemplifies community involvement. Mr. Pardee, along with his father, George Pardee Sr., and his brothers, George Jr. and Hoyt, founded Pardee Construction Company in 1946. Their company quickly became an established and reliable company building homes and commercial properties in several locations, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Diego. J. Douglas Pardee eventually became chairman of the Board of Pardee Construction Company. Over the years Mr. Pardee served on a number of philanthropic and foundation boards including the Board of Trustees of the University of Southern California (USC)—he has been honored as a Life Trustee—and the Board of Trustees of Marlborough School in Los Angeles.

He also served as chairman of the American Citizenship Youth Program at Pepperdine University and chairman of the Board of Counselors for USC's College of Continuing Education. He received an honorary Doctorate of Law degree from Pepperdine and was awarded USC's School of Business Administration Alumni Award for outstanding achievement in 1977. In 1983, he received the Construction Industry Good Scout Award from the Los Angeles Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

With a 50-year connection to San Diego, a grandson who is a recent graduate of California State University, San Marcos and a desire to make a gift that would impact the region, Mr. Pardee and his family made a decision to support Cal State San Marcos. In 2007, The J. Douglas and Marian R. Pardee Foundation Scholarship program was established at CSUSM. This generous financial gift has enabled the university to annually award 50 scholarships to students with a minimum 3.25 grade point average and demonstrated need.

These generous financial contributions have touched hundreds of students at Cal State San Marcos. The impact of his generosity will be felt for decades to come as scholarship recipients graduate and become our future teachers, business leaders, scientists and skilled professionals driving our region forward.

In recognition of his lifetime of service to the community, his commitment to higher education and his ongoing scholarship support, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and California State University, San Marcos are proud to confer upon J. Douglas Pardee the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.