Is a college degree a necessity for success? In 1978, Ray Kroc weighs in

In May 1978 as students all over the county were graduating from college, CBS 8’s Judy Elfenbein delved into whether a college degree was necessary to have a successful career. She interviewed McDonald’s founder and San Diego Padres owner Ray Kroc. He left high school after sophomore year to become a salesman. He said for the masses, there’s no way it could pay off. He said he wouldn’t even ask a prospective employee if the had a degree because he said he was “more interested in aptitude than intelligence. A real estate partner Jo Sauza said if you have a good education, you have a better opportunity for success. San Diego Union Reporter Michael Lopez said there were alternative ways to get an education besides traditional college. He joined the military and learned a trade. He said if had to give advice to 16-year old’s it would be to stay in school--and if they asked him why he didn’t, he would have no answer. An age-old question with no easy answers.