Professor William Alfred Bullough Ph.D.

1933 - 2013

(1933-2013)William Alfred Bullough was born in Oxnard, California on January 3, 1933 to William H. and Mary Bullough, emigrants from West Leigh, Lancashire, UK, and lived most of his life in Ventura. He passed away at home in the company of his loving wife Patricia (Pomada) Bullough on Sunday, September 1, 2013 following a period of declining health.

Bill was a member of the initial first-grade class at Will Rogers School. He attended Holy Cross School, Ventura Junior High, Ventura High School, and Ventura Junior College. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of California Santa Barbara in 1955. He then served in the US Army Medical Corps until June of 1957 when, within ten days, three momentous events occurred in his life: He received an honorable discharge from the army, enrolled in graduate studies, and, most importantly, married the love of his life and very best friend Pat Pomada. For the next ten years, Bill enjoyed teaching middle school in Hueneme. He returned to his studies at UCSB and earned his doctorate in history in 1970. The following decades were spent in the San Francisco Bay Area teaching, researching, and writing history at California State University East Bay. With several colleagues he co-authored The Elusive Eden which since its first edition in 1988 has remained the leading college-level California history textbook. After they retired in 1994, he and Pat returned home to Ventura where they resided in Pat's childhood home.

For most of his life, Bill was involved in black-and-white photography. He enjoyed researching and writing history, publishing three books as well as articles in academic and photographic journals. He enjoyed playing folk music on 5-string banjo, mandolin, and ukulele, and listening to Dixieland jazz. In retirement, he found his greatest pleasure in travelling the world with Pat, making new friends, and bringing home memories and photographs.

Bill was predeceased by his parents, William and Mary, and by his brother Vincent. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Pat Bullough, of Ventura and his son Greg Bullough of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, brother-in-law Raymond Pomada, as well as numerous nieces, and nephews and cousins in the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Interment will be private. Honorary pall-bearers include Bill's son Greg, old and dear friends Bill Blackstone of Ojai and Pete Fourkas of Calistoga, fraternity brother Des Kincaid of Oxford, MS, cousin Steve Hamill of Los Osos, and friend and former colleague Jos Fernndez of Carmichael. The Bullough family also wishes to acknowledge in particular the kindness and loving support of Bill's niece Cathy and her husband Vern Allard, as well as Sisters of the Holy Cross during his final months.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to:Sisters of the Holy CrossSt. Catherine by the Sea1931 Poli StreetVentura, CA 93001-2360.