Got to meet him a couple times at UC Berkeley.

Norm Mineta, who as a boy was interned with his family and thousands of other Japanese Americans during World War II, then rose in government to become a 10-term Democratic congressman from California and a cabinet official under two presidents, has died.https://t.co/4PXwmGEuZI

— Matt Stevens (@ByMattStevens) May 3, 2022

Alan Simpson met Norm Mineta when they were kids, when Mineta was in the Japanese American internment camp.

The late Bob Sayles told me once that he roomed with Norm Mineta at Bowles Hall at Cal. I mentioned that Mineta was the only Democrat in George W. Bush's cabinet, and Sayles told me that, oh, Mineta wasn't a Democrat. He just said he was in order to get elected in San Jose!

Bob Sayles along with much support from Mineta and many others went on to raise the capital and win the administration's approval to retrofit and save Bowles from destruction. It is now a successful co-ed residential college. Much appreciated by this ex-Bowlesman. May they both rest in peace.

JimSox said:

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The late Bob Sayles told me once that he roomed with Norm Mineta at Bowles Hall at Cal. I mentioned that Mineta was the only Democrat in George W. Bush's cabinet, and Sayles told me that, oh, Mineta wasn't a Democrat. He just said he was in order to get elected in San Jose!

Bob Sayles along with much support from Mineta and many others went on to raise the capital and win the administration's approval to retrofit and save Bowles from destruction. It is now a successful co-ed residential college. Much appreciated by this ex-Bowlesman. May they both rest in peace.

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Thanks for the info. I'm an ex-Bowlesman too - memorable parties.

When filling out my registration packet before my freshman year, I specifically requested to be placed in Bowles Hall. (I was looking to save money, as Bowles Hall's rooms were quadruple occupancy rooms and thus cheaper than the other dorms, which were either double or triple occupancy rooms.) From what I heard, most students wanted to avoid being placed in Bowles Hall. Yet, somehow, I was assigned not to Bowles, but to a triple in Unit 3 (Norton Hall).

GATC said:

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JimSox said:

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The late Bob Sayles told me once that he roomed with Norm Mineta at Bowles Hall at Cal. I mentioned that Mineta was the only Democrat in George W. Bush's cabinet, and Sayles told me that, oh, Mineta wasn't a Democrat. He just said he was in order to get elected in San Jose!

Bob Sayles along with much support from Mineta and many others went on to raise the capital and win the administration's approval to retrofit and save Bowles from destruction. It is now a successful co-ed residential college. Much appreciated by this ex-Bowlesman. May they both rest in peace.

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Thanks for the info. I'm an ex-Bowlesman too - memorable parties.

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It was definitely NOT coed when I was there. There was the A-hole and the guy that had to find a certain object. No one during my year at Bowles bought the keg. What happened in Bowles, stayed in Bowles .

wifeisafurd said:

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GATC said:

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JimSox said:

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The late Bob Sayles told me once that he roomed with Norm Mineta at Bowles Hall at Cal. I mentioned that Mineta was the only Democrat in George W. Bush's cabinet, and Sayles told me that, oh, Mineta wasn't a Democrat. He just said he was in order to get elected in San Jose!

Bob Sayles along with much support from Mineta and many others went on to raise the capital and win the administration's approval to retrofit and save Bowles from destruction. It is now a successful co-ed residential college. Much appreciated by this ex-Bowlesman. May they both rest in peace.

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Thanks for the info. I'm an ex-Bowlesman too - memorable parties.

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It was definitely NOT coed when I was there. There was the A-hole and the guy that had to find a certain object. No one during my year at Bowles bought the keg. What happened in Bowles, stayed in Bowles .

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Yes it only became co-ed a few years ago after the retrofit and after it became a residential college. That was Bob Sayles's vision and possibly a good way to win approval to save the Hall.

I had the good fortune of meeting Norm Mineta in person after he had been US DOT Secretary and came away impressed. I had known him as the Mayor of San Jose and later the Congressman representing the San Jose area. He did a lot of good things for the San Jose/South Bay. In recognition of his service (and his arranging funding for various transportation projects), the San Jose Airport (SJC) is officially named Norm Mineta San Jose Silicon Valley International Airport (I think that is the official name). It is a great airport (IMHO, much easier than SFO and OAK) and I have flown in and out of it hundreds of times, each time remembering my meeting with Norm Mineta.

Go Bears!

In my days in the insurance business in San Jose I occasionally worked with Mineta. This was before his political career blossomed. He was a good man and I later had the opportunity to vote for him as Mayor and Congressman. Didn't know about the Cal connection (he would have been a few years ahead of me I think)..

Mineta, aside any political label, was a good man. Having lived in Silicon Valley most of our lives he was always well respected and he dealt with politics giving a aura of integrity. Until reading this thread I did not realize him to have been a Bowlesman. All the better. The 50s and 60s in Bowles were electric. I cannot imagine a better place to have resided. Traditions, athletics, social outlets camaraderie such that I never felt need for a fraternity to round out my experience.

RIP Norman Mineta. A very good man!!

What a delightful video of a valuable member of the Bears community. God bless him.

My Dad was Norm's Scout Master in Heart Mountain, WY (internment camp).
Dad was also a Cal Alum - a junior (mechanical engineering) during the Pearl Harbor attack - and dropped out to follow executive order 9066, then enlistment (Army Air Corps), before returning to complete his undergrad and Masters.
Norm and Alan Simpson were at Heart Mountain a while back for the opening of a new commemorative walking trail, and it was great to hear that generation's stories 1st hand, and those two in particular - they were a crackup.
Good guy, incredible memory - never seemed to forget a name or face.