Ray Howard Whitten became the sixth president of Woodbury Business College in 1922. Students soon began addressing him as "Pop" Whitten because of his openness and genuine concern for all Woodbury students. During his tenure, Whitten transformed the school from a traditional business school into a college of higher learning.

Whitten increased enrollment from 63 to 236 students in only three months. Woodbury continued to grow under his leadership moving to 727 S. Figueroa St. in 1924 and thirteen years later to 1027 Whilshire Blvd. Sensing the changing business climate, Whitten realized students would need more advanced courses in order to assume increased leadership positions in the business world. Woodbury acquired a state charter allowing academic degrees to be given to graduates. Woodbury Business College officially became Woodbury College.

Whitten is best known for his philosophy of education. He believed in using professionals to teach courses and sending students to local business leaders to gain first-hand knowledge of practices in specific areas. Professors taught students how to think and gave students projects to actively participate in their education. Whitten said, "Business ability is what a graduate has left after everything he has learned has been forgotten - including the answers he gave on tests. So we aim everything - including tests - along the line of developing skills, viewpoints and resources that will be most useful to our students in their careers." Woodbury University adheres to this philosophy today.

"Pop" Whitten Heritage Society

"Pop" Whitten is remembered as an innovative educator who left a lasting mark on our University. Friends of Woodbury University can share in "Pop" Whitten's legacy by leaving gifts from their estates, whether through a will or other estate planning vehicles, to Woodbury University. For details about the "Pop" Whitten Heritage Society, please contact Evanne Levin at Evanne.Levin@woodbury.edu or 818-767-0888 ext. 248.

The following are members of the "Pop" Whitten Heritage Society:

• Professor Sydney Lawrence Balbes
• Brian and Linda Bowman
• Helen Gurley Brown
• Don and Laura Butler
• Dr. Ellen Campbell
• Drs. James and Hannah Dean
• Joan and Theodore J. Fuller
• Mr. and Mrs. C. J. "Tip" Geisbush
• Drs. Paul and Zelda Gilbert
• Dr. George R. Hensel
• James R. Inman
• George E. Isaacs
• Kerr-Cagney-Klim Foundation
• Drs. Richard and Carol King
• Ted Kirkendall
• Richard W. Knowles
• Dr. Rozella S. Knox
• Mr. and Mrs. Roger L. Kringen
• Robert and Barbara Kummer
• Wanda W. McQuary
• Gordon E. Meinert  
• Frank Thomas Murphy
• Louis and Patricia Naidorf
• Dr. Kenneth and Mrs. Rose Nielsen
• Diana Lilley Smith
• Dr. Ronald E. Soderling
• Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Standing
• Dr. S. Jerome and Judith D. Tamkin
• The Tamkin Foundation
• Carolee Toon
• Jim and Susan Whiting
• Norma J. Woelfel
• Jeanne R. Woodbury
• Bill Ziegler