THIRD DYNASTY: BOB GASS (1983-1996)

Assistants: Ed Hinck 1985-1988, Brent Brossmann 1989-1990.

Bob Gass did graduate work at Kansas and USC before serving as the Assistant Director for Lucy Keele for one year and then taking the program over.  During his tenure he had three different students qualify for the NDT at least three times each and one student who qualified four years in a row.  In 1988 he coached a double-octofinalist team, the only Fullerton team to advance to elimination rounds of the NDT since 1973.

Dr. Gass also took a CSUF contingent to China during January of 1989, just months before the Tienamen Square incident.  He reinvigorated the Individual Events program and qualified a number of students to the AFA-NIET.  He was the first coach to acquire computers for the squad room and was a leader at bringing new technology into debate.

Key members of the debate squad included Jon Bruschke, the present director, Chris Daley, a 4-time NDT qualifier, and Greg West, a 4-time NDT qualifier now an attorney.  Jon Bruschke and Chris Daley advanced to the elimination rounds of the NDT in 1988, the first elimination round appearance since 1972.  Darci Sears qualified for the NDT and now works for California Assembly Member Gene Mullin.  Mike Dolny qualified for the NDT, received a Ph.D. in Sociology, organized a local Kucinich for President campaign, contributes to the Fair & Accurate Reporting watchdog group, and works as a statistical analyst for the Arizona Corrections department.

Active Individual Events competitors included: Robin Gurien, now a faculty member at Mary Washington. Beth Dumas, now a Cuesta community college faculty member in Languages and Communications. John Seiter, now a faculty member at Utah State. Scott Smith, who now owns his own Public Relations company.  Carrie Gartner is the Special Business District Director in Columbia, Missouri, and works with Miles for Miracles to raise funds for Crohn’s Disease.

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