June 13, 1969 The 7Ist annual commencement exercises were held today at San Diego State College. There were 45-hundred-39 graduating students--37-hundred of them receiving bachelor's degrees and about eight-hundred receiving master's degrees--661 more graduates over last year. College president Malcolm A. Love conferred degrees in the exercise conducted at Aztec Bowl. Doctor John R. Adams, who retired last year after forty years of teaching service, delivered the commencement address. Dr. Adams had words of optimism for the 45-hundred graduates. He said the world would endure, despite the threats of hippies, atomic war and DDT. Every generation, he said, fulfills its function, like those which precede it--a generation of children become a generation of parents, of grandparents and eventually remote ancestors. Valedictorian was Peggy Jo Thomas. Senior class president, Andrew M. Mecca gave the traditional signal, repositioning the tassel on his mortarboard, to complete the ceremony. A total of 111 students were graduated with honors, and distinguished teaching awards were bestowed upon eight members of the faculty. The college symphonic band played during the recessional of the faculty. As we mentioned, the valedictorian was Peggy Jo Thomas, whose parents graduated from State College 21 years ago. Peggy Jo had a scholastic average of 3-point-97. She spoke with Jonathan-Dunn-Rankin.