One of the most celebrated events to ever take place at San Diego State was the commencement address given by President John F. Kennedy on June 6, 1963. But few people know that it was a business student, Robert L. Weir (’63 marketing) that got the ball rolling by proposing to the White House that Kennedy deliver the speech at what was then San Diego State College.
Weir, a native San Diegan and alumnus of Hoover High, attended San Diego State after a stint in the Marine Corps. He was voted San Diego State’s student body president during his senior year.
As student body president, Weir was tasked with finding a commencement speaker. His wife, Anna Lou, happened to see in a newspaper article that Kennedy was slated to come to San Diego on Friday, June 6. Since the graduation ceremony had been scheduled for June 7 (it was later moved back one day), Weir wrote to the White House to ask if Kennedy would consider delivering the commencement address.
After numerous communications between the College and the White House, San Diego State’s president, Dr. Malcom Love, confirmed to Weir in April that Kennedy would be coming to San Diego State.
Unlike today’s graduation event which is broken down into separate ceremonies for each individual college, San Diego State held a single commencement ceremony in 1963 at Aztec Bowl. California Governor Edmund (Pat) Brown, Dr. Malcom Love, Dr. Glenn Dumke who was chancellor of the California State Colleges, and several other dignitaries were on the speakers’ platform with Kennedy and Weir.
One thing that Weir remembers distinctly is the great number of Secret Servicemen that did a thorough security check of the College prior to the president’s visit and their constant presence during the commencement ceremony.
He also remembers his impression of Kennedy. “He had the biggest teeth of anyone I’d ever met in my life,” Weir said with a laugh. “He was also a very good speaker. Before he spoke he pulled out a sheet of paper, looked at it, put it back in his pocket, then stepped up to speak. I think he had a photographic memory.”
At the end of the speech, the Marine Corp band played “Hail to the Chief” as Kennedy exited Aztec Bowl and boarded one of four helicopters waiting in an adjacent parking area. Weir recalled Kennedy bumping his head upon entering the helicopter, checking his hair, then climbing aboard. All four helicopters then took off.
While Kennedy spoke at several major universities during his term as president, it was the only time he ever spoke at a state college. Kennedy was assassinated later that same year.
Several years after graduation, Weir moved to the Los Angeles area where he founded Metro Video Systems Inc., a security video systems company. Nearly forty years after establishing his award-winning business, Weir still enjoys his role as the president and CEO of the company.
Bob Weir at Aztec Bowl in 2010
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