He flunked out of three colleges and still earned a doctorate. He fought cancer twice and beat it both times. He is a published author, husband, father and one of the most passionate professors you may ever meet. His name is Randall Beeman, and he firmly believes that history is one of the most important subjects in education.

Raised in Frankfort, Kan., a small town compared to that place on “The Andy Griffith Show,” Beeman was the youngest of four children but came from an extensive family that had a huge emphasis on education. His father had a small veterinarian practice in town until he decided to teach.

“When I was 12, he became a professor at a community college,” he said. “Then he became a professor at Kansas State University.”

Beeman spent time with his neighbor, Paul Reust, who has one of the largest arrowhead collections in the United States. Reust also had an enormous collection of history books that young Beeman would read. He spent hours going through their library and would often take trips to Indian burial grounds and archeological digs.

“What really got me into history was studying the Native Americans,” Beeman said.

When Beeman entered high school, he was a regular troublemaker and was even told by his history teacher that he would be horrible in the profession. Afterward, Beeman went straight to college where he continued to do badly.

“I majored in keg tapping and street pharmacy,” he said. “Ended up working at a lumber yard and doing farm work all around Kansas.”

One day, while working in 105-degree weather on a farm, he was told to burn a variety of materials from 10 different buildings. The high humidity and scorching heat caused Beeman to be bedridden for two days. It was then that he decided to go back to school.

He achieved his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Kansas State University and worked as a teaching assistant. Before obtaining his Ph.D at Iowa State University, Beeman was married and became a father.

He continued teaching, which led him to Las Vegas where he was employed as an assistant professor. During his time there, he read about the good pay rate for California community college professors. In 1996, Beeman applied for a job at BC and was chosen among 12 other applicants.

“I have found teaching here to be an absolutely rewarding experience,” he said. “I cannot write a better job description than for the one I have.”

While teaching, he also writes for various publications, has received numerous awards, had a book published and has become a chair member of various historical societies throughout California. Beeman has also had to face severe trials and tribulations. In 2000, he was diagnosed with a brutal case of skin cancer on his back. The cancer created a giant hole in his back that would often erupt. He refused to let it take over and still continued to work.

After fighting off the disease he faced another bout with cancer three years later in his colon that was surgically removed.

Going on his ninth year at BC has only lead Beeman to become more dedicated in his work. Helping students to find out who they are and where they are going are just a couple of the rewards he greatly loves.

“The opportunity to be here is a lesson in itself that we need to appreciate,” Beeman said. “This is a pretty good life we have here, and we need to take advantage of that.”