Lawrence Thomas 'Larry' McHargue

Paid through 2024

I taught at Vanguard University for forty years and, formally retired in 2004, though I continued to teach some courses for several years thereafter. I am professor emeritus of botany. I taught part-time at Providence Christian College in Pasadena part of the time until 2020. I have been on the college board from its inception.

I attended Occidental College after graduation from SPHS. I then attended Caifornia State University, Los Angeles and earned my MS in botany there. Later I attended UC Irvine and received a Ph.D. in Biology.

Lincoln Elementary
South Pasadena Junior High

I have lived in South Pasadena since 1940, except for about a year in 1965-66, when I lived in Alhambra. That was just before and just after Lynne and I were married.

My parents moved to South Pasadena in 1940. We lived in an upstairs apartment on Bank Street. The location is now part of the athletic field across from the high school auditorium. I have continued to live in South Pasadena since since then, except for the year in Alhambra just before and after my marriage to Lynne I continue to live in the same house with Dorothy, my second wife

Two of my daughters are graduates of SPHS. Sarah (1987) and Nancy (1993) are both graduates. My oldest granddaughter was enrolled in SPHS two years ago as a ninth grader. She now lives in Yucaipa.

Quite a number of friends from both high school and college have died. I have given careful consderation to my age, and I have concluded that there is very little that I can do about it! I have been in contact with Sue Cresswell Walling and Tad White. I have talked with a few others over the years. I recently connected with Tony Turpin.

I have vivid memories of my high school years. However, there are too many to write about now. The teaching who influenced me more than any other was Mr. Gruen in chemistry.

In high school I was active in the science club (Cimota). The older Boy Scout group, the Explorers, occupied much of my time. I was also in the Young Life Club. Young Life played a major role in my life. I came to Christ through that organization.

I graduated from Occidental College in 1960. I worked on a teaching credential at California State University at Los Angeles, and earned my M.S. in botany in 1964. Teaching middle school was not my calling! I married Marcia Lynne Mainland in 1966. We were engaged six weeks after our first date. I lost her in August 2017. My Ph.D. in plant ecology was from the University of California, Irvine in 1973. A major event in my life was my marriage to Dorothy Steventon in January 2022. Dorothy and I met at Pasadena Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

Photography, plant identification, camping, reading. Despite retirement, I have had very little spare time. Retirement has enabled me to arrange time somewhat, but it has not brought much more leisure time.

Most of the music that I listen to is classical. I also enjoy traditional hymns. Recordings of them are not easily found. Several years ago one of our church members accused me of not liking anything composed after 1700, though that is a considerable exaggeration of my taste in music! I am a supporter of KUSC. I also listen to KMozart online or on AM radio during the day.

I read a wide variety of books and other material. Much of it is on the internet. I also listen to the radio a great deal. That includes conventional AM-FM, and shortwave. Some of my reading is technical. I also read in various areas of history, and I had a minor in that field. For the most part I have little interest in commercial television. I gave up watching it several years ago. I was paying about $100 per month for Tier 2 channels, and I realized that I had not turned on the TV for six months. I orignially ordered it because my wife Lynne wanted to watch it. I follow a number of websites on the internet. They are historical, political, and religious.

3/7/2021. My wife Lynne passed away in the middle of August 2017. I missed her greatly. I have remained in our home here in South Pasadena. I formally retired from Vanguard University in 2004, though I taught an occasional course for several years after that. However, I have been in the classroom at Providence Christian College in many semesters since then. My wife's declining health precluded my teaching for several semesters. Providence Christian College is a rather new, WASC accredited liberal arts college located on the former campus of the First Congregational Church of Pasadena It is a Christian college that that is based in the Reformed tradition. I am also a member of the college board. I was on the board of Westminster Theological Seminary for some years, and I rotated off in 2011. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church now has a congregation in Pasadena that we attend. The congregaton has ministered to me greatly. In January and February 2019, I visited Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. In Feb. and March of 2020, I spent several weeks in Australia. In February 2024, Dorothy and I spent a month in Indonesia and New Zealand. The Indonesian portion of the trip was part of a delegation from Providence /christian College. I have an interest in several Southern Hemispheric plant families and genera. I fell on the kitchen floor in the middle of April 2020,, and I broke my hip. I didn't realize it for several weeks. That is a stsory in and of itself, but it includes x-rays thast missed the fracture. Surgery was done to repair it. I have completely recovered from it, and I no longer think about it very much. The care that I received at the Huntington was superb. I had two heart attacks in May 2024, followed by triple bypass surgery in June. I am feeling very well now.

What I'd like my classmates to know about me before our next reunion: I have immensely enjoyed retirement. I have been extremely busy. My late wife, Lynne, used to say, "Some retirement this is!" Dorothy says the same thing. I have traveled a bit. I am still vitally interested in botany. The Lord has blessed me with better health than many others my age. I intend to remain active as long as he gives me strength. My daughters and granddaughters are wonderful to me, and they give a great measure of happiness and pleasure. I continue to be active in church and my Christian life. My tax man told me that I will never have an opulent life. I know that, but the Lord has provided me with adequate means to live comfortably. I am grateful to him for his providence to me.

My wife, Lynne, and I were married in 1966. I lost her on August 16, 2017. She had several jobs. Two that were noteworthy, were teaching remedial reading in Christian school and serving as church secretary for 26 years. I nearly lost her in the summer of 2010, due to intestinal problems. Her physician told her that she was a fighter, and that many with her condition would not have survived as long as she did. I met and married Dorothy Steventon on January 22, 2022.. I am extremely happy in my second marriage.

My writings, articles, & books: A few things in economic botany at professional meetings. I have also written articles for some newsletters.