Cecil
Zaun
Class of 1989
Background:
Cecil G. Zaun was born June 16, 1908, in Des Moines, Iowa,
U.S.A. He received his B.S. degree (1931) and his M.A. degree
(1950) from the University of Southern California.
Professional
Experience:
Between 1931 and 1941, Mr. Zaun was a physical education and
health teacher at two high schools in the Los Angeles, California,
City School System, where he was also the varsity football
coach. In 1941, he volunteered and became a naval officer
(USNR). He resigned from the Navy as a Lt. Commander. He was
health and safety coordinator at John Marshall High School
from 1946 to 1949. In 1949, he became the safety and health
supervisor for the Los Angeles City School Districts. In 1951
he was relieved of the health responsibilities and became
the supervisor of the safety and driver instruction section.
In the mid-1960s, he was promoted to the title of director.
From 1952 to 1960, he was an instructor of public safety and
advanced driver education at the University of Southern California.
From 1954 to 1967, he served as volunteer chairman of first
aid and water safety for the Los Angeles Chapter of the American
National Red Cross. Mr. Zaun served twice as chairman of the
education section of the Governor's Traffic Safety Conferences.
During the 1960s, he was chairman of the supervisors section
of the Education Division of the National Safety Council.
During that time he served on the Board of Directors of the
National Safety Council.
Career
Highlights:
Mr. Zaun was a coauthor of the driver education text, When
You Take the Wheel.* He has authored several articles in professional
publications. He was a charter member of the American Academy
of Safety Education and served as president in 1967-68. He
was an emeritus member of Veterans of Safety. He initiated
the research and assisted in the design of the Patterson/Bernoff
Simulator Research program conducted at Hollywood High School
in the late 1950s. Mr. Zaun designed and initiated a commercial
truck driving course for business, industry and public agencies
through the adult school program at one of the Los Angeles
high schools. He also started traffic violator schools in
cooperation with the courts in the Los Angeles area. In 1967,
he designed the DECON dual controls for driver training vehicles
and rural letter carriers. After his retirement in 1970, he
continued as a member of the California Committee for Traffic
Safety Education.
