Aztec Timeline: A Chronology of All Things San Diego State > 1990

1990

Martha Fallgatter (class of 1971), a California State University Board Trustee, is named the California State Legislature’s “Woman of the Year.”

U.S. President George Bush nominates General Merrill A. McPeak (class of 1957) to be the chief of staff of the Air Force.

San Diego State is the largest university in California.

Serra High School English teacher Janis Gabay (class of 1972 and 1978) is chosen as the National Teacher of the Year.  She receives a crystal apple from President and Mrs. Bush in a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

1991

Unheralded SDSU freshman Marshall Faulk gives the single best rushing performance ever in a NCAA Division I football game, rushing for 386 yards and seven touchdowns in a 55-34 victory over the University of Pacific.  He accounts for 44 points in only the second game of his collegiate career. (September 14, 1991)

1992

SDSU President Thomas Day enacts “deep and narrow” cuts to the university faculty in an effort to deal with budgetary problems.  Extensive protests, litigation, and public outrage will lead to the reinstatement of over 100 faculty positions.

1993

Space shuttle astronaut Ellen Ochoa (class of 1980) is the first Latina in space and the first Aztec to orbit the earth. (April 8, 1993)

1994

Sandra McBrayer (class of 986 and 1990) is named the National Teacher of the Year.

1995

SDSU History professor Raymond Starr’s San Diego State University: A History in Word and Image is published by SDSU Press to commemorate the university’s impending centennial.

SDSU launches its website: http://www.sdsu.edu. (January 1995)

1996

The Infodome library addition opens at SDSU.

All five members elected to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors are SDSU graduates: Greg Cox (class of 1970 and 1985), Dianne Jacob (class of 61), Pam Slater (1970 and 1985), Ron Roberts (class of 1965), and Bill Horn (class of 1966).

85-year-old Claire Forrest is the oldest person to ever graduate from SDSU.  Born in Panama, Forrest became a U.S. citizen in 1950.

World-class heptathlon athlete and legally blind runner Marla Runyan (class of 1991 and 1994) wins the Paralympics.

Three SDSU engineering professors are fatally shot during a thesis defense by a graduate student. (August 15, 1996)

The granite monolith war memorial, one of the only free standing tributes to the military on a university campus in the nation, is dedicated just west of Aztec Center. (November 23, 1996)

1997

SDSU celebrates its centennial (1897-1997).

SDSU passes the billion-dollar mark in total grants and contracts received.

President Weber sets his goals for the university with his Shared Vision compact; he also receives the Peacemaker Award from the San Diego Mediation Center.

1998

Internationally recognized sculptor Eve Andree Laramee (class of 1978) unveils her 100 Years, 100 Stones sculpture on Campanile Walkway.

1999

Susan Vreeland’s (class of 1972 and 1978) best-selling art novel, The Girl in Hyacinth Blue, is voted one of the year’s 25 most distinguished novels by Publishers Weekly.

Bring It On, starring Kristin Dundst and Eliza Dushku, is filmed on the SDSU campus.

The first SDSU credit card is offered through the SDSU Alumni Association, Aztec Athletics, and Aztec Shops.