Dr. Clyde Cook, beloved long time president of Biola University, passed away last week at his home in Fullerton, CA. After returning home from a speaking engagement, he died suddenly at home, leaving behind his wife Anna Belle, 2 children and their families, and a university family of thousands.
Clyde Cook was a man whose life exemplified service to Christ. His parents were missionaries in Hong Kong at the outbreak of World War II, and when captured by the Japanese, the family was split among three prison camps. After the war, the family was reunited, and Clyde later attended Biola College, where he excelled in basketball. He later became a missionary to the Philippines, a professor at Biola and Talbot Seminary, President of OC International, and then President of Biola. Taking over the school at a time of transition and decline, he stemmed that slide and saw the school more than double under his presidency. He carefully guarded Biola's faithfulness to its heritage, while moving the school forward academically and in its influence in both the Christian world and the marketplace. He retired to become President Emeritus just one year ago and saw his successor appointed just this past fall.
I was blessed to have Dr. Cook as President during my time at Talbot, and I had a great appreciation for his leadership and his heart. Those of us with a long enough memory to have seen what he led Biola through have a great appreciation for his faithful service. He has finished his work here well.
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