​George Soares

Partner, Kahn, Soars & Conway/Dairyman

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

George H. Soares has been an influential California agriculture leader and a supporter and advocate for Cal Poly and the California State University for more than three decades. A respected and successful attorney, lobbyist and dairyman, he is a founding partner of Kahn, Soares & Conway, a law firm known for its expertise in agricultural, environmental, water, business and administrative law.

Mr. Soares is the recipient of many honors: lifetime memberships in the California Agricultural Aircraft Association and the Western Crop Protection Association; the Outstanding Service Award from the American Crop Protection Association; the Golden Bear Award, presented by the California State Fair for service to youth; and the California Agricultural Leadership Program’s Profile in Leaders in the category of Public Policy.

A 1966 Cal Poly agricultural business graduate, Mr. Soares has been engaged with Cal Poly and the CSU since his student days, when he served as Poly Royal superintendent and student body president. He served on the Cal Poly Corporation Board of Directors for 25 years; on the Centennial Campaign Committee for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences; and is a founding member of the Cal Poly Foundation Board of Directors. In 1987, he was named an honored alumnus of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.

With his wife, Gloria, Mr. Soares established the Louis H. and Stella S. Soares Outstanding Achievement Award at Cal Poly in memory of Mr. Soares’ parents and which is presented to an outstanding agriculture student. Also, as chair of the CSU Agriculture Advisory Committee, Mr. Soares helps strengthen agricultural research and education and expand partnerships between the university and the agriculture industry. In 2007, the CSU Alumni Council named him the Cal Poly Alumni Advocate of the Year in recognition of his work advancing the CSU system.

In recognition of his exemplary public service and extraordinary commitment to higher education and the agricultural community in California, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo are proud to confer upon George H. Soares the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.