Full-time philanthropist

If you’ve attended a Chico State basketball game in the past decade or so, you’ve undoubtedly seen Len Whitegon. Of course, you may also have seen him somewhere in the Chico Unified School District, or at a Kiwanis Club event, or the Salvation Army center … or with Meals on Wheels, SIRs or the Butte County Housing Authority. But there’s no doubt you’ve seen him if you’ve sat in the stands at Acker Gym.

Whenever the pep band plays the Wildcats’ fight song, Whitegon pops out of his seat, heads down a couple rows to the floor and exhorts the crowd to stand. The words they sing also are to his credit—he was among a group of spirited alums who uncovered the lyrics and restored a school tradition.

Oh, and he’s 78, though with his full head of hair and boundless energy, you wouldn’t be able to tell.

“He’s one of the youngest older people I know,” said Anita Barker, Chico State’s athletic director, who peppered her effusive description of him with phrases such as “a local gem,” “a phenom” and “a great man.”

“He’s such a loyal Chico State alum and has the best interest of the program at heart,” she added. “He’s a diehard Wildcats follower, which is just incredible with all the things he does.”

Ah, yes, all the things he does. Here’s a quick list, or at least as quick a list as is possible:

Whitegon has been a Kiwanis Club member for 54 years—52 in Chico. This month marks his 22nd anniversary as a Meals on Wheels volunteer, as well as his membership with SIRs (Sons in Retirement), where he’s a travel chair. He’s logged three years on the Salvation Army Advisory Board, 12 with the group’s Christmas food distribution program. He’s served on the CUSD Classified Personnel Commission since 1989 and is an officer with the California Retired Teachers Association. At Chico State, he’s on the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.

His schedule will relax somewhat next year. Whitegon left the Bidwell Mansion Association board last year. He’s stepping down as director of the Chico science fair, an event he co-founded, and will wrap up his 11-year tenure with the Housing Authority on Dec. 31.

“At 78 years of age, I need to pull back,” he said with a gentle smile.

Whitegon, a native of Red Bluff, came to Chico in 1948 to attend Chico State. After beginning his education career in Orland, he returned in 1955 as principal of Park View Elementary. He spent 18 years there and 11 as principal at Jay Partridge before retiring in 1984.

He and his wife, Mildred, have lived in the same house on Lynn Lane since 1961. (Surprise—he’s a block captain and a park watch team leader.) Their daughter, Sharon Delgardo, is a second-grade teacher at Emma Wilson.

His love for the community led to the expansion of his altruistic activity following his retirement.

“I wasn’t looking for anything necessarily,” Whitegon said. “I thought I’d be a stock broker or deliver prescription drugs for a local drug store to keep busy. Things got away from me.”

He chuckled, because that’s not quite the case.

“The things I’m doing, I could say no at any time,” he noted. “As long as my health holds up, I’m glad to do it.”