Clyde Cook
Encyclopedia
Dr. Clyde Cook was the former president of Biola University
in La Mirada, California
.
, the fourth of six children, and a third generation missionary
. During World War II
, his family was imprisoned in three different concentration camps. In 1942 he was reunited with his poverty stricken family in South Africa
.
By 1947, the Cooks had moved to the U.S., and settled in Laguna Beach, California
. In 1953, Cook showed that he had talent in basketball
and won the California Interscholastic Federation basketball player of the year award. He was awarded athletics scholarships to 13 different major universities but instead chose to go to Biola College.
From 1963 to 1967, Cook and his wife Anna Belle served as missionaries in Cebu
, Philippines
with Overseas Crusades (founded by Dick Hillis
). During this time, Cook traveled to 72 different countries doing various missions related activities and representing the College.
Returning to Biola in 1967 as an Assistant Professor of Missions, Cook was then appointed Director of Intercultural Studies and Missions and helped to develop Biola's program in cross-cultural education. Called to the presidency of O.C. Ministries (formerly Overseas Crusades) in 1978, he guided the mission organization to an increased level of financial stability and multiplied foreign field involvement.
Cook served on the Biola Board of Trustees from 1980 to 1982 when he was invited by a unanimous vote of the Board to assume the seventh presidency of Biola University on June 1, 1982.
Cook has served for seven years on the Board of Directors of the Christian College Coalition, and one year as its chair. He also served for six years on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and served as the president of that organization for two years. He served on the Western Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation task force. He served several years as a member of the steering committee for the Fellowship of Evangelical Seminary Presidents, and for six years on the executive committee of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of California.
Cook announced his retirement in 2006, a year ahead of time in order to give the university's Board of Trustees enough time to find a replacement. He stated that he wanted to allow a new president to usher in Biola's centennial celebrations. In May 2006, Cook was honored for his work at Biola at the Crystal Cathedral
in Orange County
, and his interview by Rev.Robert H. Schuller
was viewed by an estimated 20 million viewers worldwide on the Hour of Power.
On June 30, 2007, Dr. Cook retired, just prior to the official start of Biola's centennial celebration. He was one of California's longest serving university presidents. Dr. Cook was noted for his strong defense of Biblical doctrine, including the key doctrine of Biblical inerrancy. Under Dr. Cook's leadership, Biola grew tremendously from a small Bible college to one of the largest evangelical universities in the nation, with nearly 6,000 total students.
After an extensive search, Dr. Barry Corey was selected to become the eighth president of Biola University on May 11, 2007. Dr. Corey was formerly Vice President/Chief Academic Officer and Academic Dean at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
. He succeeded Clyde Cook as president on July 1, 2007. Dr. Cook served as the university's President through June 2007 and as President Emeritus until his death.
Cook died on April 11, 2008 at the age of 72. He had recently returned to his home in Fullerton, California
from a speaking engagement in Houston, Texas
when he suffered a massive heart attack. He had a history of heart problems and nearly died from an earlier heart attack at age 49. After a private funeral
, more than 2,000 people attended a memorial service at First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton, where Cook was a long-time member, on April 19. Noted evangelical
author and Cook friend, Dr. Charles Swindoll, presented the message. On April 21, Biola held Cook's final memorial service, where over 3,000 students and faculty attended.
Biola University
Biola University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located near Los Angeles. Biola's main campus is in La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California. In addition, the university has several satellite campuses in Chino Hills, Inglewood, San Diego, and Laguna Hills.-...
in La Mirada, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Life and career
Cook was born on June 1, 1935, in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, the fourth of six children, and a third generation missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, his family was imprisoned in three different concentration camps. In 1942 he was reunited with his poverty stricken family in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
By 1947, the Cooks had moved to the U.S., and settled in Laguna Beach, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In 1953, Cook showed that he had talent in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and won the California Interscholastic Federation basketball player of the year award. He was awarded athletics scholarships to 13 different major universities but instead chose to go to Biola College.
From 1963 to 1967, Cook and his wife Anna Belle served as missionaries in Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
with Overseas Crusades (founded by Dick Hillis
Dick Hillis
Charles Richard "Dick" Hillis was an American Protestant Christian missionary to China, author and founder of "Formosa Crusades", later "Orient Crusades", now "OC International".-Early life:...
). During this time, Cook traveled to 72 different countries doing various missions related activities and representing the College.
Returning to Biola in 1967 as an Assistant Professor of Missions, Cook was then appointed Director of Intercultural Studies and Missions and helped to develop Biola's program in cross-cultural education. Called to the presidency of O.C. Ministries (formerly Overseas Crusades) in 1978, he guided the mission organization to an increased level of financial stability and multiplied foreign field involvement.
Cook served on the Biola Board of Trustees from 1980 to 1982 when he was invited by a unanimous vote of the Board to assume the seventh presidency of Biola University on June 1, 1982.
Cook has served for seven years on the Board of Directors of the Christian College Coalition, and one year as its chair. He also served for six years on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and served as the president of that organization for two years. He served on the Western Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation task force. He served several years as a member of the steering committee for the Fellowship of Evangelical Seminary Presidents, and for six years on the executive committee of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of California.
Cook announced his retirement in 2006, a year ahead of time in order to give the university's Board of Trustees enough time to find a replacement. He stated that he wanted to allow a new president to usher in Biola's centennial celebrations. In May 2006, Cook was honored for his work at Biola at the Crystal Cathedral
Crystal Cathedral
The Crystal Cathedral is a Protestant Christian church building in the city of Garden Grove, in Orange County, California, United States. It is the headquarters and principal place of worship for Crystal Cathedral Ministries, a church founded in 1955 by Robert H. Schuller and affiliated with the...
in Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, and his interview by Rev.Robert H. Schuller
Robert H. Schuller
Robert Harold Schuller is an American televangelist, pastor, speaker, motivator and author. He is principally known for the weekly Hour of Power television program which he began in 1970. He is also the founder of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, where the Hour of Power program...
was viewed by an estimated 20 million viewers worldwide on the Hour of Power.
On June 30, 2007, Dr. Cook retired, just prior to the official start of Biola's centennial celebration. He was one of California's longest serving university presidents. Dr. Cook was noted for his strong defense of Biblical doctrine, including the key doctrine of Biblical inerrancy. Under Dr. Cook's leadership, Biola grew tremendously from a small Bible college to one of the largest evangelical universities in the nation, with nearly 6,000 total students.
After an extensive search, Dr. Barry Corey was selected to become the eighth president of Biola University on May 11, 2007. Dr. Corey was formerly Vice President/Chief Academic Officer and Academic Dean at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary whose main campus is based in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, with three other campuses in Boston, Charlotte, North Carolina and Jacksonville. The current president of Gordon-Conwell is Dennis Hollinger...
. He succeeded Clyde Cook as president on July 1, 2007. Dr. Cook served as the university's President through June 2007 and as President Emeritus until his death.
Cook died on April 11, 2008 at the age of 72. He had recently returned to his home in Fullerton, California
Fullerton, California
Fullerton is a city located in northern Orange County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 135,161.It was founded in 1887 by George and Edward Amerige and named for George H. Fullerton, who secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway...
from a speaking engagement in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
when he suffered a massive heart attack. He had a history of heart problems and nearly died from an earlier heart attack at age 49. After a private funeral
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
, more than 2,000 people attended a memorial service at First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton, where Cook was a long-time member, on April 19. Noted evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
author and Cook friend, Dr. Charles Swindoll, presented the message. On April 21, Biola held Cook's final memorial service, where over 3,000 students and faculty attended.