PLATO was, and still is, a product of the mind and for the mind. 
The idea for PLATO came in 1980 from the mind of Liz Cless, who developed the feasibility study that led to the founding.  Rosemary Park and UCLA Extension’s Dean Leonard Freedman, along with
Liz Cless, cultivated and guided, monitored and mentored, so that
the primary goal was always kept in mind: “To further the intellectual pursuits of our members.”

Other important early players included Dr. Philip Frandson, Dr. and Mrs. Armand Hammer, Dr. Franklin Murphy, and Mrs. Yolande Chambers Adelson.

What was PLATO like in the beginning?  That’s easy – almost
exactly as it is now, but with additional committees and the ancillary activities they facilitate.  The basic structure of coordinator-headed Study/Discussion Groups (S/DGs) has remained unchanged from
day one.

One feature that is significantly different is the philosophy behind the Colloquia. Today, these sessions cover a broad range of subjects and speakers designed to interest our members.  Liz Cless saw Colloquia as a way that PLATO members, who had mostly been out of academic environs for decades, could catch up on the newest trends in various academic and intellectual endeavors, including cutting-edge research. Our speakers were exclusively the cream of UCLA’s faculty who often provided background reading to prepare
for the talks.

Another significant difference today is the annual Milhaupt Seminar which has grown into a major study of an issue with guest speakers as well as member discussions.  Originally, these were simpler sessions not unlike our S/DGs but delving into a singular topic.

The beginning of PLATO “on the ground” must include two sterling gentlemen, Art Milhaupt and Sam Young, both of whom served as presidents of PLATO.  Art was a retired lumberman.  He was a thorough autodidact and had an iron fist in a velvet glove. 
There was so much velvet that one was very rarely aware of the fist, but it was there the few times it was needed in those early years. 
We are indebted to Art for his willingness to take on the burden
of the presidency for PLATO’s first two years.  He was terrific in that role and also set a very high intellectual standard in the many S/DGs he coordinated.  He is memorialized in the Milhaupt Seminars.

Sam Young was a lovely human being.  He was everywhere in PLATO, doing everything from leading sophisticated S/DGs on Biblical history and archaeology to heading an ad hoc group which read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, to moving the furniture, hanging the pictures and being a wonderful friend and pal to many many PLATO members.

From such beginnings, it’s no surprise that we’ve grown into such
a substantial and worthy organization!