The Banner - October 3, 1980

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California Baptist College
The Banner, October 3,1980, Page 1
Riverside, California
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE   WITH WALLACE  RELIVED
EDITOR'S NOTES...
CBC learned this week of the death of A. A. Wallace. Wallace was a
beloved friend of CBC and president Staples. Dr. Staples reviews the
life and contributions of Wallace in the following article.
by Dr. James R. Staples
Mr. A. A. Wallace of Phoenix, Arizona was a very unusual man.
My wife and ItallceiTaboUt him and Mrs. Wallace and our 30 years of
experiences with them on our way to Phoenix to officiate in the
funeral services of Mr. Wallace, age 86. On our way back to Riverside
and California Baptist College, we found ourselves continuing to
reminisce about his life.
For a little over 10 years of those first 30 years, I was his pastor at
North Phoenix Baptist Church and he was a deacon and guiding
light. A quiet man and not given to making speeches but rather
working in the background, he was an astute business man. He was a
strong and resourceful man. He was truly tough minded but tender
hearted. Born in Indian territory in Oklahoma, he lived in
Oklahoma and Texas. He and Mrs. Wallace and their son Eugene
moved to Phoenix in 1936. He was a rancher, builder, developer and
financier.
A charter member of North Phoenix Baptist Church, he actually
located the property on Central Avenue and built the original
building. Those were active years for the Wallaces. Mrs. Wallace
taught and was director of the Sunday School extension department.
She was a true visitor in every sense.
The Wallaces were leaders in establishing the North Phoenix
Baptist Kindergarten and Elementary School which finally reached
through the eighth grade and grew to almost 500 in enrollment. At
the time it was one of the largest, if not the largest, church school in
the Southern Baptist Convention. Many times the school would not
have made it without their financial support. The money was given
quietly.
There were also many missions and churches which Mr. Wallace
helped build as he gave of his time and expertise. This was true
mainly in Arizona but also in Corona Del Mar, California where they
had a summer home. When the Christian radio station KHEP was in
financial trouble, it again was Mr. Wallace and a few close Christian
business friends who stepped in with the money to take over the
direction and financial responsibilities of the station. KHEP serves
the Christian community to this day approximately 20 years later.
Soon after Grand Canyon College started in Prescott, Arizona and
the leadership determined that the college should move to Phoenix,
again it was Mr. Wallace who helped to locate the property on
Camelback Road. He also gave of his time as he led in erecting the
original buildings in record time so school could begin. As a trustee
and friend of the college, he continued to support GCC with his
time and money. The college yearbook was dedicated to him and
Mrs. Wallace. Their long range financial plans included GCC along
with California Baptist College, North Phoenix Baptist Church and
their other Christian interests.
All the time Mr. Wallace was involved in these Christian activities
in Arizona, he was spending many of the summers in California. His
son, Dr. Eugene Wallace, a professor, evangelist, pastor, was a
popular teacher at California Baptist College when death overtook
him. Later the Wallaces gave the major monies toward what became
the Wallace Book of Life Building, built in memory of Dr. Eugene
Wallac? Frected in 1973, the Wallace Building is a fine arts building
which i iudes an auditorium-chapel. It is a working museum which
shows oV relationship of the Bible, the "Book of Life", to the many
aspects of life from the great works of an to such mundane things as
name brands and cereals.
Many memories of personal "experiences during these past 30 years
flash through my mind and it is difficult not to pen them in ink. For
example, I remember the time when we were starting the first
Spanish Southern Baptist mission in Phoenix. Mr. Wallace was right
there in his "grubbies" working along side all of us. He usually
drove a Cadillac and on this day a stump needed to be pulled up. He
took a chain from his car, hooked it to the stump and turned his car
into a tractor. Later, when some of us piled into his car to go to
lunch, I still remember as a young pastor remarking when I saw all of
his tools in the floorboard of the back seat, "If I had a Cadillac, I
wouldn't have all that junk in it." In his unpretentious way, he
replied, "This is the junk that helped me buy this car." Those were
precious experiences.
Yes, Mr. Wallace was a very unusual man, the kind of dedicated
Christian layman through whom the Lord moves to change this
world of ours. May there be thousands more to take his place.
Local business leaders support faculty chair
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS COUNCIL MEETING
Seated from left to right, John Paul Starks, Bob
Donohue, Bob Irvine, Ernest Hautala, Charles White,
and Duane Pelfrey. Standing from left to right. Dr.
Jay P. Chance, Harry Vickers, Van Pope, Charles
Phillips, Bob Pentz, Bob Ravens, Ernest Button, Bob
Jabs, and Dr. Steve Carleton.
Establishing an aggressive
precedent, the Professional
Advisors Council of the Business
Department voted with
unanimity to raise a half-million
dollars for the new Chair of
Administration.
Funds will be raised over a five
year period in $100,000 increments to be used for operating
expenses with a portion reserved
for permanent endowment.
Bob Jabs, head of the Business
Administration and Economics
Department, states that the
Robert T. Andersen Chair of
Administration was established
to present the Christian
viewpoint of administration.
Robert Anderson was County
Administrator for Riverside
County for 26 years. He administered 53 departments and
directed the building of 13
county administrative centers.
Van Pope, of Heetwood
Enterprises,   chaired   the   Sep
tember 18 Advisors Council
meeting. Pope substituted for
chairman Jack Hawkins of J.D.
Diffenbaugh Inc. John Paul
Stark, congressional candidate
and member of the committee,
led the prayer.
Dr. Steve Carleton, Executive
Vice President and
Academicilean, explained that
the Chair of Administration
includes several teaching
positions with administrative
support. A full salaried
professorship is the first priority
with one or more part-time
instructors to augment the chair
program. Other members who
spoke concerning the project,
scheduling and the fund raising
methods included Bob Fentz of
A-l Stone and Masonry, Bob
Raven of Raven's Hallmark Card
Shop and Charlie Phillips of the
County of Riverside.
The target date for the initial
funds to be raised is February 1.
The goal is $31,250.00.
Other council members
continued on page 3
Free breakfast
offered
seminary prospects
Prospective seminary students
are invited to breakfast with
representatives of Southwestern
Seminary during the state
convention of California
Southern Baptists. Dr. Russel
Dilday, president of the seminary
will speak at the breakfast
scheduled for November 12.
The breakfast is free but
reservations must be made.
Contact Bill Hughes by noon
Monday, November 10 at (714)
689-2593. The location of the
breakfast is the Holiday Inn,
2700 White Lane in Bakersfield.
The convention begins on
Monday, November 10 with the
Pastor's Conference. The General
Conference will convene the next
day and continue through
Thursday. Make plans to attend.
Business and
religion majors
lead enrollment
CBC attracted 730 students for
the 1980 fall semester with 142
enrolling for religion and 131 in
business administration..
The Business Administration
Department represents the
largest increase with a 38 percent
increase over 1979. Students
appear to be following a national
trend as business continues to be
the third largest recruiter of
graduates for the job market.
True to Southern Baptist
heritage, CBC students are
continuing an emphasis on
ministry. A total of 261 students
registered as volunteers for
church related vocations.