William P. White

William P. White was the first president of Biola, holding the position from 1929-1932.

A few years after the bold and charismatic R.A. Torrey retired from the position, board members suggested that the Institute would benefit from a capable executive to take his place as president. They offered the position to
Dr. W. P. White, the Pacific Coast representative for Moody Bible Institute.
His offer to take the presidency was contingent upon an amicable agreement with the Moody Bible Institute. Thus the school instated William P. White on June 14, 1929, a renowned speaker in fundamentalist circles.

Dr. White graduated from Monmouth College in Illinois and from Zenia Seminary, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Later, Monmouth College conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. He also held three pastorates, spanning a period of thirty years, twenty of which were as pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Albany, Oregon.

Throughout his presidency, Dr. White worked tirelessly to buttress the Institute against the growing debt. He sparked several fundraising efforts with the help of the board, but those were foiled by the sinking Depression economy. Nevertheless, White’s signature proclamation was, “The Institute shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord.”
Though his term lasted only three years, he was committed to the new position of President with no real “job description” to follow. He was the first in a series of faithful presidents who would inspire the school to persevere through trials for the sake of the Kingdom.

Dr. White tendered his resignation on September 16, 1932. The Board of Directors accepted it, effective October 16, and then voted to keep him on the staff with the title emeritus and editor of The King's Business. Relinquishing both titles after six months, Dr. White then was appointed Biola's representative in the Pacific Northwest, a position which he held for eight years, with headquarters in Portland Oregon.

White Hall was named after him.