San Dimas, CA – Dr. Dick Scott, D.D., the seventh president of Life Pacific University (then L.I.F.E. Bible College), entered his eternal reward on October 18, 2022. An alumnus of L.I.F.E Bible College (Class of 1958), Dr. Scott served in various roles across the years – at summer camps, language schools, and living as an international missionary.
Dr. Scott would eventually return to his alma mater in 1992 to serve as Interim Executive Vice-President, assuming the day-to-day operations under well-known pastor and author Ron Mehl, who was then serving as the sixth president of L.I.F.E. Later inaugurated as the institution’s seventh president in 1994, Dr. Scott’s wide-ranging background and experience as a minister, linguist, missionary, and administrator enabled his proficient executive leadership. His interest and knowledge in both computer technology and building improvements, led to the most sweeping changes in the college’s history since the construction of the original campus. During his presidency, the college also pursued regional accreditation with WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges). With a new location, newly constructed dorms, leadership, and accreditation, it seemed only fitting to change the name of the college. It was then that L.I.F.E. Bible College became Life Pacific College and eventually Life Pacific University. This lifelong legacy in higher education, and particularly Christian higher education at LPU, led to the university conferring upon him its first-ever Honorary Doctor of Letters in 2020, in recognition of his outstanding and exemplary service and Kingdom contribution.
Accolades aside, what Dr. Dick Scott will surely be remembered for is his love for people. One of his greatest joys was being on the LPU campus with students, loving, leading, and doing life with them. Many alumni recall what a pleasure it was to work alongside him and how much care he took in students’ lives.
Dr. Scott also carried this love for people abroad in his role as an international missionary. After an initial journey to Panama in 1960, his love for the peoples of a specific tribe in the jungles of Panama led him to embark on a painstaking quest of translating the Bible into Embará, the language of the Choco Indians. It was an accomplishment which took 54 years to accomplish, and included consulting with a Choco assistant, and developing an alphabet for the language on his manual typewriter. Dr. Scott’s accomplishment was later celebrated at Foursquare Connection in 2014 – a translating work of great measure, part of which was carried out in a quiet, simple room on the L.I.F.E. Bible College campus in San Dimas.
Dr. Scott’s devotion to his family, many who serve in vocational ministry today, was one of his greatest and most joyous adventures. Our hearts and prayers are with the Scott and Wymore families as they grieve and process the loss of their father and grandfather.
President Angie Richey, LPU’s 11th president says of the university’s 7th president, “Dick Scott was my beloved friend and a trailblazer who made a tremendous impact on the world, global missions, Life Pacific University, and the Kingdom of God. He is an example to all, leaving behind a great legacy and faith to follow. He was vibrant, encouraging, and compelled to serve others well. I will dearly miss him.”
Perhaps a life so well lived can be summed up by the entry in his L.I.F.E. Bible College senior yearbook, in which a then young Richard Scott aptly chose a scripture that he would come to live out for the rest of his life and ministry: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Colossians 3:23”
Dr. Scott is survived by his loving children, stepchildren, and grandchildren, his wife Dawn having preceded him to heaven in the Spring of 2021.
A memorial will be held on Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. (PST) at B4 Church (Beaverton Foursquare) in the auditorium, with a reception to follow in the Commons.
In honor of Dr. Dick Scott’s legacy, there is a Presidential Scholarship at Life Pacific has been created. If you feel led to give, then you can do so here: give a gift in memory of Dr. Scott to the Scott Presidential Scholarship at Life Pacific University
