Bits & Pieces of a Lasting Legacy: Encompassing Management, Supervision and Human Relations

Dr. Luther C Guynes, PhD., began his career in academia at San Bernadino Valley College, Cal Poly Pomona University and was ultimately a graduate of Claremont University. His Career spans over fifty years in higher education as a Professor, Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Business, Assistant to the President, Management Consultant, Department Chair, Dean, and Vice President Consultant to the Regional Chancellor. He has served at Los Angeles College, LA Trade Tech College, Los Angeles Southwest College and Academic Dean at National University. He is currently the President of the Los Angeles College of Divinity. Dr. Guynes has received innumerable honors including the Chancellor’s award and several outstanding professor awards. He was also awarded the distinguished Meritorious Mast Award for outstanding service with the U.S. Marine Corps.

Dr. Guynes acknowledges that he has been able to enjoy a continual relationship with academics and higher education in part because “we are fortunate to live in a country that supports, celebrates and promotes lifelong learning without age limits in the pursuit of higher education, passion and dreams”. Luther recounts the stories of how he has lived with many “Louisms” (wisdom nougats) in the backdrop that served to encourage and inspire others on their journey of self-discovery. When asked how he achieved so much after emerging from such humble beginnings in Mississippi from the school of his grandmother’s lap, surviving childhood Rheumatic Fever, he simply remarks “if you ever see a turtle on a fence, then you know somebody put it there” as he chuckles shyly and makes no apology for the marvel of it all.

After serving eight years in the Marine Corps, tasked with educating himself, Dr. Guynes earned his Bachelor’s Degree in business administration and industrial engineering fro Cal State Polytechnic University. Later, under the mentorship of Dr. Peter F. Drucker, he earned his Master’s Degree in economics and business statistics and his Ph.D. in Government Finance and Public Administration from Claremont Graduate University. Additionally, he has extensive experience in the electronics industry where he started as an Engineer Checker for Deutsh Electronics in Banning, California and moving to a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer at TRW systems in San Bernadino, California. He was the founder and President of Management Systems & Technology, Inc. a technology systems, engineering, and logistics management consulting firm that provided services to industrial and diverse corporate entities. Services provided included diagnosing and implementing systems dynamic, control engineering, algorithmic optimization, computer modeling, application software systems engineering, technical training programs and business logistics.

Dr. Guynes leaves many echoes and footprints for generations to follow and in the profoundly of another of his “Louisms” that he loves to share. “If you live long enough, you get to see things twicw; I’ve seen them going and now I see them coming”! His expertise and amazingly diverse background in education and industry make him uniquely qualified to arrest the reader’s ear and mind without rival.

Dr. Guynes enjoys playing chess and golf, reading, concerts, relaxing with family and friends, and having hearty discussions concerning philosophy, government and the economy. He delights in the simple pleasure of a healthy home cooked meal and is a loving devoted father to his six children, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.