Leland Newcomer, 86; president of two Southland colleges
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Leland B. Newcomer, 86, a former president of both the University of La Verne and College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, died April 9 at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in Pomona after suffering a heart attack, his son, Joel Newcomer, said.
Newcomer was born in La Verne on Feb. 18, 1921, and graduated from what was then called La Verne College.
He earned a master’s degree from Claremont Graduate University and a doctorate from USC.
As president of his college alma mater for eight years starting in 1968, Newcomer established an adult education program to accommodate the schedules of people with full-time jobs and established satellite campuses around the state.
He became president of College of the Canyons in 1979. During his three years there, he helped establish a childhood development center as part of the college’s education program and launched a program for vocational nurses to become registered nurses.
Newcomer was also superintendent of schools for Newport-Mesa Unified School District in Orange County and later for Grossmont Union High School District in San Diego County.
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