The 2015 J. Tillman Hall Staff Award for Service to USC is presented to Leonard R. (Len) Wines posthumously for outstanding service to the University of Southern California after retirement.
Len Wines earned his Ph.D. in Communications (Broadcasting) in 1959 at USC, and was chosen soon thereafter to be Coordinator of Communications, and later Director of Public Relations, for President Norman Topping’s administration. He was instrumental in drafting the 1961 Master Plan for a $107 million campaign, USC’s first major fundraising effort. He wrote USC’s proposal to the Ford Foundation that earned a $6.5 million grant in 1962, the largest gift in USC’s history at that time. Other accomplishments of his 27 year career at USC of which he was most proud included: an Emmy for distinguished public broadcasting, a President’s Award for Staff Achievement in 1982, service as President of the Faculty Center Association, and helping to found and serve as president of the University Staff Club (now University Staff Assembly) for three years.
After taking early retirement in 1986, Len made a conscious effort to do things that he had not done before. His main retirement activity was in the world of computing, particularly Macintosh computers and the Internet. He was a product manager with Data Desk International; he was a Conference Faculty member at the annual Macworld Exposition and Conference in San Francisco; and he served many years as President and Senior Vice President of the Los Angeles Macintosh Group.
Len continued to generously share his expertise with colleagues at USC after retiring. He chaired the USC Macintosh User Group, and was an active member of the “computer help squad” for fellow retirees. Len served as Treasurer of the Staff Retirement Association and “webmaster” for the SRA until summer 2014. In addition, he was a devoted member and Secretary of the University Park Investment Group, which included both active and retired faculty and staff.
An important reflection of his love of USC was his continued devotion to the USC Emeriti Center. Len was a trusted senior advisor to the Executive Director of the Emeriti Center for many years, and he served on the Emeriti Center Executive Committee. In this capacity he advised the center on public relations, fund raising and advocacy for university retirees. His lighthearted sense of humor continued to bubble up in contributions to the “Senior Humor” column of the Emeriti Center Newsletter, which brought pleasure and smiles to many fellow USC retirees.
He was a beloved colleague and friend.