The National Optometry Hall of Fame posthumously honored, SCCO Professor Emeritus James R. Gregg, O.D., D.O.S. D.O.L., '48, for his many contributions to the profession. Grandson Patrick Shearer represented the Gregg Family at the induction ceremony held in June in Orlando, FL. The event program noted that Dr. Gregg was, "a powerful figure in the history of the Southern California College of Optometry as well as the entire profession of optometry."

Dr. Gregg earned two baccalaureate degrees from the Ohio State University – B.S., Business Administration, 1937, and B.S. in Optometry, 1942. He earned the O.D., degree in 1948 from SCCO, then known as the Los Angeles College of Optometry. He served on SCCO's faculty, 1947–84 and was named Professor Emeritus in 1984. He was Interim Dean of Academic Affairs, 1975–76 and Grants Administrator, 1976–84.

A prolific writer, Dr. Gregg's columns, articles, monographs, textbooks and presentations covered a wide range of optometric subjects, and appeared in virtually every professional publication. His book, Origin and Development of the Southern California College of Optometry, 1904–1984, continues to serve as the primary reference for the history of the institution.

He also authored three popular history books for the profession: The Story of Optometry; American Optometric Association: A History; and History of the American Academy of Optometry, 1922–1986. His writings appeared in 200 different magazines or journals totaling more than 500 articles. He wrote more than 900 newspaper columns that appeared in well over 150 newspapers, about 100 brochures on vision, and 15 books. Dr. Gregg combined his technical writing on optometry and his love of the outdoors and became a leading writer on vision for the sportsman and wrote the book, The Sportsman's Eye, as well as hundreds of articles for the popular press.