A RT IC L E S 4
My Life at Pepperdine 1965-1967
The campus, located on 79th Street between Vermont and Normandie Avenues, was like a tropical oasis. Streamline Moderne buildings, painted a distinctive turquoise, shone against thick, green lawns.
In the middle of the campus, with walkways radiating in all directions, stood a round fountain guarded by a gleaming white cherub called Dolores. Beyond Dolores stretched the By Billie (Wesley) Silvey (’67) Promenade, a shaded walkway between tall palm trees that ended at Budlong Avenue across from the lovely home of Frank’s aunt and uncle, Norvel and Helen Young. Norvel In 1965 my husband Frank and I were journalism majors was president of Pepperdine at the time, and he had at Abilene Christian College (ACC) in Texas. We were encouraged us to come out. I had been writing publicity about halfway through our undergraduate study when the for ACC and he wanted me to do the same thing here. two men who made up the journalism department left the same year—one for a new teaching position and the other, We moved into Normandie Village, the two-story barracksto retire. Eager to continue our educations, we packed up style apartment buildings that served as married students’ and moved to Pepperdine College in Los Angeles, a sister housing. Two apartments opened off each of three porches with a stairwell between leading to the second floor school connected with Churches of Christ. landing. Our apartment was on the far left end upstairs. In The day we were leaving, we stopped by the cleaners to pick the double apartment below us lived Jay (’68) and Lenore up our last few clothes, and when we told the man there Byerley and their children. They soon became good friends. where we were going, he said, “You can’t go there. They’re When I came to Pepperdine, I had brought my guns. I rioting in the streets.” owned a .22 rifle and a 20-gauge shotgun. Then, at one It was the summer of the Watts Riots and we were headed point, I realized that if someone were to break in, we could for South-Central Los Angeles. In the long run it was a likely kill half a dozen people down the way if either we or they fired through the flimsy walls. I sent the guns back to very good decision. Texas with my parents the next time they visited. Driving onto the Pepperdine campus, we were stopped by a security guard who informed us that the campus was still Pepperdine was a wonderful place of friendships, learning under an 8 PM curfew. As mature married students, we and Christian growth. I had a dual major—English and journalism. Dr. James Smythe (’45), my English literature scoffed. We hadn’t had to be in by 8 in years!
The campus when I was a student.
Frank and Billie Silvey at their new apartment on New Hampshire.
Billie Silvey at the fence around Normandie Village when Frank was overseas.