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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."


"The Sword of the Lord
and of Gene!!!"

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