Wallar, Gene A. (1912-1996)
Date Updated
10-26-2019
Department
Psychology
Academic Rank
Professor
Year Retired from SJSU
1972
Educational Background
Ohio State University, 1940 Ph.D.
Ohio State University, 1935 MA
Iowa State College, 1934 BS
Teaching Experience
San Jose State University, 1948-1972
Coe College, 1946-1948
Ohio State University, 1938-1940
Iowa State University, 1937-1939
University of Tennessee, 1937-1937
Ohio State University, 1935-1937
Administrative and Professional Experience
Peace Corps Training Program, 1963‑1967.
U.S. Marine Corps, 1943‑1946.
AAF Technical Training Command, 1941‑1943.
Files
Personal Commentary
My experience in the Marine Corps was all with Air Warning Squadron Six which was assigned to the Second Wing and had its combat work on and around Okinawa in WWII. I was a Night Fighter Controller which means that I was directing night fighter aircraft in search of Japanese incoming flights. Our job was to keep Okinawa from being bombed and to shoot down Japanese fighters and bombers. It was interesting work. The series of typhoons which hit our camp after the war was over were experiences I'd rather not repeat.
During the Peace Corps work, I was on "loan" from San Jose State to be Assistant Director and Assessment Officer at SJSC for training programs for the Philippines. I was also loaned to the University of Hawaii training Volunteers for Malaysia. I enjoyed being part of a very popular development during its beginning. I worked with four programs training for the Philippines and one for Malaysia.
The volunteers stayed in the islands for 2 years. During the last 6 months of their tour of duty, I was given leave to visit them and to make an assessment of the development which took place in their personalities. I visited and interviewed each volunteer attempting to see what changes took place in them as individuals. This was a great learning experience for me as I was able to visit each one living in the conditions in which they lived for the 2 years of their work.
Date Completed: 9/96
Adapted from: Biographies of Retired Faculty San Jose State University 1997: A Project of the Emeritus Faculty Association of San Jose State University. San Jose, CA: The University, 1997.