OCEANSIDE: Volunteer knows how to dial the right numbers

By TOM MORROW - For the North County Times | Sunday, May 18, 2008 7:09 PM PDT ∞

OCEANSIDE ---- When you're the president of a major university retiring after 38 years of teaching and administration work, you might think your new life would be one of quiet relaxation. That hasn't been the case for Oceanside's Hugh LaBounty.

LaBounty retired from his post at Cal Poly Technical University in Pomona in 1991. "I figured I'd come down here, sit back and enjoy the beach, the sunshine and sea breeze," he said last week.

However, in the past 17 years, LaBounty has spent much of his time as a volunteer and fundraiser for several charitable foundations in North County.

During his years at Cal Poly Pomona, LaBounty had gathered a lot of friends and contacts, many of whom were not only financially influential, but philanthropic with their fortunes for the right projects.

When he moved to North County, the upstart Cal State San Marcos was still in its infancy, and then-university President Bill Stacy persuaded LaBounty to take an honorary, nonpaid position of "senior university consultant."

LaBounty spent six years volunteering for the new university and was key in gathering the financing needed for the new campus library and field house.

"I was instrumental in helping to raise the funds needed for those two projects," LaBounty acknowledged. "I suppose my primary talent is being able to pick up the phone and dial the right number."

Before leaving his consultant's job at Cal State San Marcos in 1997, then-Oceanside Mayor Dick Lyon called upon LaBounty to help form an Economic Development Commission for the city.

"I think of all the projects I've been involved with over the past few years, I'm happiest with the results of bringing that commission to fruition," LaBounty said. "It resulted in the hiring of Jane McVey," the city's economic development director.

Since its formation, the EDC has been a dynamic force in developing a number of commercial and industrial projects, including Ocean Ranch business park. The commission's most notable triumph was attracting Idec Pharmaceuticals to the city. The former Idec plant is now operated by Genentech.

LaBounty said one of his greatest challenges was being a member of the Mission San Luis Rey Board of Trustees.

"We developed a physical master plan for improving the mission," he recalled. "It wasn't an easy job, but we got it done."

In early 2000, LaBounty was appointed chairman of the original planning committee for El Corazon, the huge section of raw donated parkland in the center of Oceanside.

"Every meeting was an adventure, but I think we came up with a good plan for the future," he said. "The council told us they'd leave us alone, and they did. When it was completed, they approved our plan 5-0, which is saying something for this city."

Today, LaBounty busies himself working as board member for the MiraCosta Foundation and the Tri-City Hospital Foundation, doing what he can to raise money for both organizations.

Even so, LaBounty said he's trying to cut down on his community activities and spend more time traveling.

"I'm still trying to find time to retire," he said, chuckling. "But I probably wouldn't be all that good at sitting around."

Contact Tom Morrow at quotetaker@cox.net