|
Back To
Memoriam
Biography of the late Dr. Gene Scott Ph.D.
(As prepared by him before his passing)
August 14, 1929 - February 21, 2005
Dr.
Gene Scott earned his Ph.D. in Philosophies of Education
at California's prestigious Stanford University in 1957; in
1992, he was the featured cover story for the Stanford Alumni
Magazine. For over 40 years he has served as an ordained
minister, including 15 years in the mission field and in
executive capacities with major Protestant denominations and
educational institutions, 15 years of which he was a Director,
Vice President and President of the denomination before refusing
re-election to concentrate on the Los Angeles pastorate.
In
1975, Dr. Scott was elected pastor of Faith Center, a
45-year old church of congregational polity in Glendale,
California. In that same year, Dr. Scott began to host a nightly
live television broadcast, over "The University Network," of
straight talk, Bible teaching and eclectic programming,
including in recent years the outstanding performances of the
University Network Equestrian Team, with world-champion American
Saddlebred horses, and world-champion Hunters and Jumpers
competing in charity horse shows world-wide (including 20
percent of the U. S. Equestrian Team in 1991). Lately, his
programming has featured his beautiful and talented wife,
Melissa, as lead singer at the Cathedral, along with other
friends in athletic activities on locations around Los Angeles
and throughout America.
In
1983, the University Network began broadcasting 24 hours
a day via satellite to North America and much of Mexico and the
Caribbean. The congregation grew to over 50,000 families in
succeeding years (including the 15,000 locally), with affiliate
television and radio stations broadcasting Dr. Scott's Sunday
church services and nightly talk show. In 1990, Dr. Scott
became the international voice of "The University Network" which
broadcasts by radio to 180 countries of the world (and over four
television stations locally). By 1992, the Network had wired
the world for sound, broadcasting on medium and short-wave
stations around the world, 24 hours a day. Today, the programs
are broadcast live over Radio Moscow from Russia via two Russian
satellites and transmitters in Krasnodar, Samara and Novosibirsk
in Russia, from Mt. Hermon in Israel, from Anguilla in the
Caribbean, from Swaziland in Africa, from 5 transmitters in
Costa Rica 24 hours each day, from Dallas, Texas, and Nashville,
Tennessee, making it the most expansive short-wave radio network
in the world, with programming in English, Spanish, Portuguese
and French (bigger than the BBC or Voice of America). Every
spot on the globe receives 24-hour programming.
Dr.
Scott has written and published some 20 books, has logged over
50,000 hours of television and radio teaching played world-wide
daily, and is immersed in a multitude of activities. He is a
philosopher, artist, philanthropist, philatelist, equestrian and
bibliophile. His art is treasured by its owners, and he has
painted well over 1000 watercolors, acrylics or oils that have
won international acclaim.
Dr. Scott's main church, known as "The
Los Angeles University Cathedral," has more than 15,000
members in the Greater Los Angeles area, and thus is the largest
Protestant church in Downtown Los Angeles. Both the Cathedral
and the world-famous "Jesus Saves" signs are designated
"Historic Monuments." Hundreds gather for Sunday services in
this Spanish Baroque-style architectural masterpiece to make a
statement about an "upward look" amidst the hustle and bustle of
downtown commerce.
A collection of
the
History & Development of the English Bible, partly on
display at the Los Angeles University Cathedral, includes many
of the milestone editions of the Bibles and the books and
manuscripts that served to foster or underlie the translations
into English. Over 100,000 people have viewed this collection,
and it is a highlight of the Los Angeles Conservancy's walking
tours through the historic Downtown Los Angeles theater district
every Saturday morning.
Studying under Professor Cowley at
Stanford, Dr. Scott developed a taxonomy for analyzing social
institutions, making him sought after by a variety of
institutions as diverse as: L.E.A.R.N. Los Angeles, The
Caribbean Beacon, Ltd. of Anguilla, British West Indies, The
Sunset Mausoleum Association of Berkeley, California, The Reborn
Foundation of Sao Paulo, Brazil, The Blue Ribbon "Save the
Books" committee and "Rebuild L.A." in Los Angeles, "The Rose
Bowl Aquatics Center" of Pasadena, and the Philatelic Foundation
of New York.
Dr. Scott is well known in Los Angeles
for his philanthropic and charitable work. His Network provided
the facilities for the "Save the Books" telethon for the Central
Library, co-hosted by former ARCO Chairman Lodwrick Cook and
Gene Scott. Multiple institutions have benefited from his
insights and providing of funds, including the Richard Pryor
Burn Foundation, the Central Library, the Southwest Museum, the
Museum in Black, the Junior Achievement headquarters, the
Adventist Medical Foundation, Rebuild LA, and the Rose Bowl
Aquatics Center, to name just a few. Dr. Scott is the
Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center and
one of its Founding Directors. He serves as a member of the
Board of Rebuild L.A. together with leaders from throughout Los
Angeles, and of the prestigious Philatelic Foundation of New
York. He is President or a Director of more than a dozen
corporations world-wide.
Civic and community leaders who are
aware of Dr. Scott's abilities and contributions to community
service include former and present Mayors such as Tom Bradley
(Los Angeles), Rick Cole, Katie Nack, John Crowley, Bill
Thompson, Bill Paparian and Bill Bogaard (Pasadena), and Larry
Zarian (Glendale). Others include L.A. City Council members
Nick Pacheco, Richard Alatorre, Nate Holden, Joel Wachs and John
Ferraro; Mike Roos of L.E.A.R.N.; the late California Governor
Edmund G. "Pat" Brown; Chairman Emeritus Lodwrick Cook of ARCO;
San Francisco Mayor and former State Assembly Speaker Willie
Brown; Maxine Waters; David Lizarraga of TELACU; Ron Beaton of
K.I.E.V. Radio; John Llewelyn of Forest Lawn; Bruce Corwin,
President of the Miracle on Broadway and Metropolitan Theaters;
David Igler of Glendale Adventist Medical Center; Tom Holliday,
Chairman of the Board of the Southwest Museum and member of the
law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Charles E. P. Wood,
Chairman of the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center Board; Federal Judge
Dickran Tevrizian (who served on the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center
Board with Dr. Scott); and Superior Court Judge Barbara Burke.
Dr. Scott has been honored by many civic and community
organizations for his personal efforts on their behalf; most
recently, the City of Pasadena surprised him with a Birthday
Tribute at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center where civic leaders
from throughout the State of California gathered to pay tribute
to his generosity and his unflagging support.
Religious leaders among the Los Angeles
community who have spoken out in support of Dr. Scott include
Jess Moody, Pastor of the largest Baptist church west of the
Rockies, Shepherd of the Hills Church in Chatsworth (formerly
First Baptist Church in Van Nuys); Rabbi William Kramer, Beverly
Hills; and Reverend E. V. Hill, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Los
Angeles. Reverend Jesse Jackson preached as Dr. Scott's guest
from the platform of the Los Angeles University Cathedral in
June 1995, and other prominent religious, cultural and civic
leaders are frequent guests at the Sunday services.
Former Pasadena Mayor Bill Paparian
thanked Dr. Scott in his last "State of the City Address,"
saying: "I want to thank Dr. Gene Scott for his kind
introduction, as well as for his considerable ongoing
contributions to Pasadena and humanity at large. I am honored
to call him my friend."
 
|
