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Dr. Clyde Cook (1935-2008) was born in Hong Kong to a family of missionaries and was the fourth of six children. He played basketball for Biola College from 1954-8, was the athletic director from 1959-63, and was the head of Biola's missions department from 1967-1979. He served on the board of trustees from 1980-2, and was asked to assume the position of President when J. Richard Chase resigned in 1982, during Biola's transition from college to university.Dr. Clyde Cook bio at Biola's website. Accessed 3/11/09 Biola Hall of Fame: Clyde Cook

Background

Childhood

Clyde Cook's grand-parents and parents were missionaries to China. His family was separated during World War II, and at the age of 7, he and his mother were held in a Japanese prison camp for six months. The family was reunited in South Africa in 1942, and after spending several years there, they settled in Laguna Beach where Cook was the star basketball player of Laguna Beach High School and was named California Interscholastic Federation basketball player of the year in 1953. Dr. Clyde Cook bio at Biola's website "Clyde Cook, 72; led Biola University during period of strong growth." LA Times: April 19, 2008.

Education

Cook was offered athletic scholarships from thirteen universities. However, Cook went to Biola in hopes of becoming a missionary, and played on Biola's basketball team. While at Biola, he met his wife, Anna Belle. He graduated with a degree in Bible in 1957.

He earned his Master of Divinity (1960) and Master of Theology (1962) from Talbot Theological Seminary.

He earned a doctorate of missiology from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1974.

Ministry

While earning his M.Div, Cook also served as Biola's athletic director and basketball coach from 1957-60. In 1963, he and his wife, Anna Belle, left to do missionary work with O.C. Ministries (Overseas Crusades at that time) in Cebu City, the second largest city in the Philippines. While working in the Philippines, Cook participated in pastors' conferences, city-wide crusades, lay institute training, youth conferences and Bible school teaching. He traveled extensively, visiting more than 72 countries in athletic and drama evangelism and to represent Biola University. Cook, along with his family, left the Philippines in 1967 to take a position as Assistant Professor of Missions at Biola. http://www.biola.edu/news/articles/2008/080411_cook_bio.cfm

Career at Biola

After graduating from Biola, Clyde served as the school's Athletic Director from 1957 to 1960. From 1963-1967 he and his wife, Anna Belle, were missionaries with O.C. Ministries (Overseas Crusades then) in Cebu City in the Philippines. During this time Clyde participated in pastors' conferences, city-wide crusades, lay institute training, youth conferences and Bible school teaching. He traveled extensively, visiting more than 72 countries in athletic and drama evangelism and to represent Biola University. In 1971, he spent six months in the Philippines helping to set up theological extension education programs.

Returning to Biola in 1967 as an Assistant Professor of Missions, Clyde was then appointed Director of Intercultural Studies and Missions and helped to develop Biola's nationally acclaimed program in cross-cultural education. Called to the presidency of O.C. Ministries in 1978, he ably guided the mission organization to an increased level of financial stability and multiplied foreign field effectiveness.

Clyde 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 and became president emeritus on July 1, 2007.

Dr. Cook served for seven years on the Board of Directors of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, 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 as well as serving as a member of the steering committee for the Fellowship of Evangelical Seminary Presidents. He served for six years on the executive committee of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of California.

Legacy

Clyde Cook died of a heart attack in his home on April 11, 2008. He was one of Biola's most endearing members. Some accomplishments include:

Adding women to the board of trustees
Building the school's endowment to $43.5 million
Lifting a ban on off-campus dancing in 1988 L.A. Times
Enrollment doubled to nearly 5,800