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Soon after his graduation in 1913, he was a Little Man off Campus—an efficiency engineer in nearby Oakland. It wasn't half as much fun. Remembering his father's advice, Bob Sproul stuck it out only a year—long enough to marry the girl at the next desk (says he: "I'm the victim of propinquity"). When the university cashier absconded, creating a deficit and a vacancy, Bob Sproul joyfully went back to college. He has been there ever since.
Lobbyist Supreme. At 29, Sproul became comptroller, making him business manager of the university's campuses and its vast real-estate investments, and watchdog of Cal's interests at the state capital. As a business manager, Bob Sproul was efficient; as a legislative lobbyist, he was superb. Sometimes his methods annoyed Cal's crotchety old astronomer-president, William Wallace ("Eyebrows") Campbell. Once, hearing Sproul's booming voice ripping through the wall, President Campbell demanded to know what the comptroller was doing. Told that he was talking to Sacramento, the old man snapped: "Well, tell him to use the telephone."
When Sproul was not in Sacramento, backslapping and bulldozing the legislators, he was hitting the road to visit his most influential "constituents"—the farmers. Sproul convinced them that the university was doing a good job, sold himself in the bargain. In 1930, when he was only 39, Sproul, who had never taught a class in his life, and had only a bachelor's degree, became president of the University of California.
No Thanks. The average U.S. college president lasts only five years in office. Bob Sproul is still going strong after 17, and it is not for lack of other offers ("They're getting to be a nuisance"). Sproul has declined the presidency of the Anglo California National Bank (at $50,000), the presidency of the Prune and Apricot Growers, the directorship of Selective Service, candidacy for the Republican nomination for senator and governor. His biggest temptation came last January.
All day the rumor had gone around that Columbia University wanted Sproul as president, at a whacking figure. Nearly 8,000 students jammed the gym, chafed impatiently until Governor Earl Warren, '12, finished a long speech. Then up jumped husky varsity halfback and Student President Ed Welch. Grabbing the mike, he cried: "We've been trying to steal a coach from another university. Now another university is trying to steal our most important man. We can't go on without Bob Sproul!" The band played For He's a Jolly Good Fellow. A blue-&-gold banner implored: STICK WITH us, BOB! When Sproul promised that "Your wishes will not be ignored," cheering undergraduates raised the roof. The Columbia job went instead to Ike Eisenhower, whose doctoral degrees are also honorary.