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J. Richard Chase

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

J. Richard Chase (1930–2010) was the sixth president of Biola University in California from 1970 to 1982 and the sixth president of Wheaton College in Illinois from 1982 to 1993.

Early life and education

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J. Richard Chase grew up on a dairy farm in Oxnard, California and attended the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (later Biola University). Biola president Samuel Sutherland mentored Chase, and Chase married Sutherland's daughter in 1950. He graduated from Biola in 1951 with a degree in theology, and then attended Pepperdine University on a basketball scholarship, where he received a bachelor's and master's degree. Chase graduated with a Ph.D. in speech from Cornell University in 1960.[1][2]

Career

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In the early 1960s Chase taught at Biola in the speech department while leading a church in Hollywood. He was named vice president of academic affairs in 1965[3] and was appointed president of the university in 1970.[4] After serving as president of Biola for twelve years, Chase was appointed as president of Wheaton College in 1982 where he served in this role for eleven years, seeking to attract students from around the world and maintain the university's academic standards and biblical values.[5][6] He retired in 1993, succeeded by Duane Litfin.[7][8] Chase's tenure at Wheaton was notable for his fundraising successes[1] but also for a censorship controversy in 1990 where several students were suspended or expelled for publishing an off-color underground newspaper.[9][10][11] After leaving Wheaton's presidency, Chase taught courses at Tyndale Seminary in the Netherlands from 1993 to 2003.[1]

Death

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Chase died on August 20, 2010, in Carol Stream, Illinois, after a long battle with dementia and pneumonia.[1]

Personal life

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Chase was married for 59 years to Mary (Sutherland) Chase, and had two children, Kenneth Chase and Jennifer Chase Barnard, and seven grandchildren.[1] Chase was the great-great-nephew of American politician and jurist Salmon P. Chase.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Goldsborough, Bob (August 23, 2010). "J. Richard Chase: 1930-2010: Past Wheaton College president; Significantly increased the school's endowment". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Lane, Larry (May 19, 1974). "Promoter of Extracurricular Activities: Biola's Resident President: Man on the Go: Biola President Keeps Busy Pace". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  3. ^ "Biola Academic Assistant Named". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA. August 28, 1965. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  4. ^ Canary, P. (December 5, 1976). "Biola College No Longer Carries Bible School Image: Need for New Facilities to Meet Student Demand Predicted by President of Biola". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  5. ^ Banas, Casey (March 4, 1990). "Its reach is global: People may call Wheaton College little, but its voice spans the world". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  6. ^ "Wheaton's History". Wheaton College. Archived from the original on 2017-09-02. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  7. ^ Murray, Matt (May 1, 1992). "Wheaton College president announces plans to retire in '93". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  8. ^ Gottesman, Andrew (September 18, 1993). "Wheaton College Hails Chief". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  9. ^ Garza, Melita Marie (May 16, 1990). "Controversy splits Wheaton College". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  10. ^ Garza, Melita Marie (May 20, 1990). "College shuts down paper, opens debate". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  11. ^ "Campus Life: Wheaton; Disciplinary Acts Raise Questions On Free Speech". New York Times. May 20, 1990. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  12. ^ "J. Richard Chase". Wheaton College Presidents. Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
Academic offices
Preceded by
Samuel H. Sutherland
President of Biola University
1970–1982
Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by President of Wheaton College
1982–1993
Succeeded by