Second in a series

Re “A Texan Settles in at West L.A. College”

Whatever West Los Angeles College asks Dr. James Limbaugh to do during his presidency, he won’t hesitate for two reasons:

• As a first-born and as a Leo, “I always am anxious to do more,” he says.
• Chances are he long ago mastered the task, however, challenging, during his first career stop at Frostburg State in Maryland, in the Appalachian Mountains.

“Frostburg gave me a chance to work in every major division” of college administration,” says West’s first-year president.

“I have done student affairs. I have done business affairs. I have managed residence halls and food services. I have done NCAA compliance coordination. I have been a catering director. I have started  an environmental sustained building program. When I became an assistant-to-the- provost, I got into curriculum and led a reform general education movement.”

Dr. Limbaugh, a native east Texan, says that Frostburg (5,400 students) “helped me get focused on what I wanted. I finished my Ph.D at the University of Maryland. Then I decided – I guess it’s a curse since I am a first-born and a Leo – I kept wanting to do more,” he said.

(In an aside, President Limbaugh explained astrological appeal and birth order. “If you read about Leos,” he said, “they talk about how they almost demand to be the leaders. They are the ones who feel they need to be on top. If you study birth order, first-borns always are the ones pre aggressive.)

“And so I took a vice presidency at Angelo State, which is West Texas, a school of about 8,000 students, a community of 100,000, right at the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert.”

That was where he made perhaps the most climactic decision of his professional life.”

(To be continued)