A Brief History of the First Endowed Chair at Loma Linda University

by Morton M. Woolley ’51 and Herbert I Harder ’51

On September 15, 2009, a small group was given the opportunity to visit the new anatomy department in the centennial complex. Those present were: Roy Wu, coordinator for centennial tours; Herbert I. Harder and Morton M. Woolley, members of the Loma Linda University School of Medicine Class of 1951; Jane Woolley ’54-aff, wife of morton Woolley, James Woolley, son of doctors Morton and Jane; and Roger Hadley ’74, dean of the Loma Linda University School of Medicine. The meeting had been requested by doctors Harder and Morton Woolley. Their purpose was three-fold: A. To make arrangements for a group photograph of all available members of the Loma Linda University Class of 1951 in front of the anatomy laboratories in the centennial complex that were funded by that class; B. to see the Crooks memorabilia which had been presented to Loma Linda University School of Medicine at the APC banquet in 1976 (these were found in excellent condition and they will be prominently placed in the library of the anatomy department where hey can be viewed by faculty, students and visitors); finally, and most importantly, to provide a history of the genesis and development of the first endowed chair in the medical school and refresh the memory of the man for whom it was named.

The Class of 1951

In September of 1946, a long 63 years ago, a heterogeneous group of very excited and somewhat apprehensive members of the freshman class gathered in the anatomy amphitheater for their first lecture. The class sat quietly and nervously waiting for their professor. About eight o’clock a graying man in blue overalls unobtrusively entered the room and sat down on the aisle steps near the door. After a glance at the clock he quietly asked an adjacent student for the time. The slightly annoyed student merely pointed to the clock on the wall just above the door.

After sitting on the steps for a minute or two longer, this slightly built man stood up, walked to the podium and introduced himself as Dr. Samuel Crooks, professor of anatomy! He then read Psalms 18:35, “Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness had made me great” (KJV), offered a short prayer, and read the poem “Blue Overalls.” Here was a unique Christian teacher who cared deeply for his students.

History of the Chair

During his residency in pediatric surgery at a Boston children’s hospital, Dr. Morton Woolley studied the academic structure of Harvard’s medical school. It became apparent that a significant strength of the Harvard faculty came through named endowed chairs. The honor of being appointed to fill the position of a named endowed chair came only after careful evaluation of the accomplishments and the potential of the candidates. When Dr. Woolley returned to Los Angeles in 1959, the importance and significance of endowed chairs was firmly imprinted in his memory.

It has long been a custom at Loma Linda for the 25^th-year anniversary class to present a significant gift (usually money) to the medical school at the annual alumni banquet. During one of its annual reunions in the late 1950s, the Class of 1951 began to plan its gift; not just a monetary gift, but something in addition that would be of long-term benefit to the medical school. Here Dr. Woolley’s memory kicked in. When he introduced the idea of an endowed chair to the class, the first comment he received was “Mort, do you really think time will last that long?” In spite of that unexpected remark, naming a chair for Dr. Samuel A. Crooks was unanimously acclaimed, and strong support was voted. The goal? $100,000!

A program of annual contributions over the ten-year period prior to the presentation to the school was initiated and supported by the class, hopefully avoiding a last-minute crash effort. Also annual interest from such a fund would enlarge the fund until the 25^th anniversary banquet. The first contribution was $10,000 by Nancy Yost. The next $90,000 was a bit more difficult, but as the years hurried by, the fund gradually grew to a sizeable sum, though short of the goal. At the 25^th class reunion, the evening before the banquet in 1976, Dr. Woolley announced that the amount on hand was still short of the goal. Checks were quickly written and we left the reunion that night exhilarated, with a total of $106,000!

The annual school of medicine banquet in 1976 was on a rainy night in the Disneyland hotel auditorium. Mrs. Crooks was present, but knew nothing of what was about to transpire. Dr. Crooks had died during the night before he was to give his first lecure of the 1950 school year. But in his office that night were a pair of new overalls, his Bible, and a copy of the poem “Blue Overalls,” by Thomas Russell Shelton (see text below), all laid out in preparation for the next morning. At the banquet the class gift to the school included these items, courtesy of Mrs. Hulda Crooks. Their significance was explained by Dr. Harder during his presentation. In addition, alongside the platform was a draped antique chair that had been constructed in the year of Dr. Crooks’ birth. It had been purchases, restored, and reupholstered in blue denim by Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Gustin. The class resolution was read by Dr. Ronald Selvester, then came the high point of the evening: the unveiling of that chair by Mrs. Crooks. The audience responded with a thrilling, long-lasting standing ovation. After the unveiling, the additional gift of a check in the amount of $106,000 to the dean of the school seemed almost anticlimactic, although $106,000 was by far the largest amount that any prior class had given to the school. The significance of those gifts for the endowment of the Samuel A. Crooks Chair of Anatomy was not lost on the audience.

At the 1976 APC banquet: In the left-hand photo, Dr. and Mrs. Ralph D. Gustin '51 (at the left) and Hulda Crooks look on as Dr. Ronald H. Selvester prepares to unveil the antique chair. In the center photo, Herbert I. Harder '51 presents $106,000 to Dean Harrison S. Evans '36. In the right-hand photo, Morton M. Woolley '51 speaks as the banquet's master of ceremonies.

Conclusion

What has been the trend set by that gift of $106,000 for an endowed chair in 1976? What has happened in the ensuing 30-plus years? A recent report gleaned from this web site lists 46 endowed funds under six rubrics:

1. Scholarships
2. Basic sciences
3. Clinical departments
4. Research
5. Whole person care
6. Completed chairs and funds

To date the total monies accrued to these endowed funds, from that gift of $106,000 (small in today’s parlance; huge at the time) has grown to approximately $200,000,000 and it continues to grow!!

When Dr. Hadley joined our visiting group we related this account, suggesting that he should have this history of Loma Linda University School of Medicine’s initial endowment, and the founding of the Samuel A. Crooks Endowed Chair in Anatomy, as not many remain who were alive at the time of the initial chair endowment. Further, very few remain who personally knew Dr. Crooks. Dean Hadley then asked us to write this history. Having hereby done so we hope that it will be an incentive blessing to LLUSM alumni and its many friends.

The photo on the left, front row: Carol Nelson, wife of Richard A. Nelson '51; Mary Belle Brauer, widow of Floyd S. Brauer '51; Marjorie Harder, wife of Herbert I. Harder '51. Back row: E. Jane Woollley '54-aff, wife of Morton M. Woolley '51; Richard A. Nelson '51; Morton M. Woolley '51; Almon J. Balkins Jr. '51; Ronald H. Selvester '51; Herbert I. Harder '51; Ralph J. Thompson Jr. '51.

Blue Overalls

by Thomas Russell Shelton

When dawn awakes and duty calls,

A new day is begun

The Sky puts on blue overalls,

And, tinkering with the sun,

It starts the day’s machinery

With oil from Hope’s bright can,

And drops some in our hearts so we

May, each one, play the man.

Above this whirling, belted world,

Which some vast Power has made,

And which for centuries has whirled,

The big Sky bends, arrayed

In gorgeous overalls of blue,

And on this whizzing wheel

It shapes our destinies anew

Each day for woe or weal.

Blue overalls are worn, it seems

To shield from work-day’s blight

The Sky’s star-buttoned suit of dreams,

Which it reveals with night,

For when blue overalls are shed,

And it is time to rest,

How grand the Sky looks overhead

In black and silver dressed.

But in blue overalls arrayed,

The Sky has proved its worth,

And many a perfect day has made

For man’s welfare on earth …

Blue overalls are proper things

For brawny men and brave.

They make the purple cloaks of kinds

Seem vestments of a slave.