JOHN MARVIN DEAN MEMORIAL AWARD

John Marvin Dean graduated from the University of Redlands in 1932 with a degree in Social Science. A brother of Kappa Sigma Sigma, he ran track and was involved in theater, debate and student government, serving as ASUR President in 1931-1932. In the immediate years after graduation, John was politically active on behalf of statewide candidates and issues. He was elected President of the UR Alumni Association in 1935 and 1936. He worked in broadcasting and news writing for Los Angeles area radio stations and the L.A. Daily News. From 1935-38 he attended the University of Southern California Law School, receiving a Bachelor of Laws Degree. He served as Editor-in-Chief of Law Review in 1937-38, and was elected Skull & Dagger, all-University Honor Society in 1938. John worked for a private Los Angeles legal practice from 1938-40 specializing in Federal income and estate tax.  From 1940-43 he was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of California and was involved in espionage prosecution of accused German agents, as well as miscellaneous civil, admiralty, and criminal litigation.  In 1943 he enlisted in the Navy, serving as an Air Combat Intelligence Officer with the Patrol Bombing Squadron 101, Fleet Air Wing 17 and Aircraft Seventh Fleet.  He was discharged in 1946 as a Lieutenant, U.S. Naval Reserves.  He received the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and an Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with 3 stars while serving in the Southwest Pacific-Philippines campaigns of Admiralties, New Guinea, Morotai, and Leyte Gulf.  From 1946-49, John was in private law practice in Los Angeles specializing in Federal trial and appellate cases.  He passed away at the young age of 39 in February 1950 from undisclosed reasons. Our fraternity history attributes the idea for an annual Kappa Sigma Sigma reunion to Brother John Marvin Dean. He and Brother George Finley were elected to organize the first Rendezvous held in May 1933 at Proctor’s Tavern in Arcadia. Thus the Kappa Sigma Sigma Alumni Association was formed for the purpose of holding an annual Rendezvous.  In 1951 Dean’s widow, Dorothy Bussey, established the J. Marvin Dean Memorial Award to commemorate the memory of one of the co-founders of our fraternity alumni association, and to honor the alumni brother chosen each year as the outstanding example of one who lives and conducts himself in his everyday life in accordance with the concepts and teachings of Kappa Sigma Sigma.