From the Archives: Fifty Years Ago, President Ford Dedicated Firestone Fieldhouse

On September 20, 1975, President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford arrived at Pepperdine via Marine One, touching down on the soccer field. They were greeted by a crowd of 18,000—shattering an attendance record for campus events—at the new $2.5 million athletic complex, there to celebrate its completion. The complex was named Firestone Fieldhouse in honor of Leonard K. Firestone, a donor and member of Pepperdine’s Board of Trustees, the former president of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, and the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium.

At the event, Firestone stood on the platform with the president and commended the University’s growth since its move to Malibu. He stated that "the greatest years are still ahead." Pepperdine President William S. Banowsky presided over the event, which included performances by the United States Marine Corps Band and Seaver College’s A Cappella Chorus. Also participating in the ceremony were university board members John Wayne, who led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Pat Boone, who sang the national anthem.

After Firestone’s formal dedication of the athletic structure, Pepperdine University bestowed an honorary Doctor of Laws degree upon President Ford. He then delivered a 30-minute speech on the importance of private institutions in higher education. "Independent schools in the United States exemplify the commitment of their benefactors to the American free enterprise system—and, in a sense, to freedom itself," he said. He praised Pepperdine’s commitment to academic excellence and athletic achievements, joked about envying Pepperdine’s balanced budget after dealing with the pushback in Washington, and shared that he wanted to try surfing in Malibu.

After the dedication, President Ford remained involved with Pepperdine by serving as a member of the Pepperdine Board of Regents from 1986 to 2006.

To listen to President Ford’s full speech at Firestone Fieldhouse, visit Pepperdine’s digital collections.