Calvin B. Rock, DMin, PhD, is honored for extraordinary leadership and dedicated service to Loma Linda

LLUAHSC Board chair retires

Calvin B. Rock, DMin, PhD, is honored for extraordinary leadership and dedicated service to Loma Linda

[SCOPE, Spring 2002]

Dr. Rock (front row, second from left) poses with the Loma Linda University Board of Trustees that was elected by the constituency in October of 1995.

Adinner honoring the leadership and dedicated service of Calvin B. Rock, DMin, PhD, who for the past 11 years has served as chair of the Boards of Trustees for Loma Linda University and Loma Linda University Medical Center, was held on October 23 in Wong Kerlee International Conference Center.

Dr. Rock, who also serves as vice president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, retired as chair of the Boards of Trustees for Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center and its related entities on the same day.

During the dinner, several individuals reflected on the service that Dr. Rock has given to Loma Linda and to the Adventist world Church.

Leading in presenting remarks was Neal C. Wilson, past president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists,

and emeritus LLUAHSC Board member. Others presenting remarks included Lowell C. Cooper, MDiv, MPH, vice president, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; Ted L. Ramirez, JD, member, LLUAHSC Board of Trustees; Leroy A. Reese, MD, member, LLUAHSC Board of Trustees; Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, LLUAHSC executive vice president for University affairs; and B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, president and chief executive officer for LLUAHSC.

During the dinner, Dr. Rock was presented with a bronze replica of the Good Samaritan sculpture for his dedicated service to Loma Linda. He was also presented with a LLUAHSC service medallion, the highest honor given by Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center, and with a framed print of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. Framed with the print is an original page from the King James version of the Bible printed in the early 1600s.

Dr. Rock (front row, second from left) poses with the Loma Linda University Board of Trustees that was elected by the constituency in October of 1995.

In his concluding remarks, Dr. Rock reflected on his years of service at Loma Linda and the many challenges that have faced Loma Linda over the past years.

Dr. Rock will not totally retire. He will continue to serve on the Loma Linda Boards, and continue to chair the Board of Trustees for Oakwood College, Huntsville, Alabama, where he served as president for 15 years.

Eight years ago, Dr. Rock founded Operation ReachBack, Inc., an organization of Black Seventh-day Adventist professionals. Members serve as mentors to Black Seventh-day Adventist youth in the United States and around the world. In addition, they raise funds for scholarships and present evangelistic series each summer in various countries in Africa.

Dr. Rock was born on July 4, 1930, in New York City. He spent his childhood days in the cities of New York, Philadelphia, and Huntsville, Alabama. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was 11, where he spent most of his teenage years.

Dr. Rock is an alumnus of Oakwood College, where he received his bachelor of arts degree in 1954; the University of Detroit (MA, 1966); and Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee (DMin, 1978; PhD, 1984).

At the dinner held October 23, 2001, Dr. Behrens presents Dr. Rock with a LLUAHSC medallion commemorating his years of service as Board chair.

He entered the gospel ministry as a pastor/evangelist in the South Atlantic Conference in 1952. Subsequent pastorates included churches in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, and New York. In 1967, he accepted a call to the Southern Union Conference, serving until 1970 as associate secretary of the ministerial association.

After pastoring for one year in 1970 in the Northeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Dr. Rock accepted an appointment as president of Oakwood College. He served in this position until 1985. During his presidential tenure, the college—while maintaining its standard of academic excellence in an environment that promoted spiritual development—increased access to educational opportunities for a continually growing campus of students from diverse geographical, cultural, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Since 1985, Dr. Rock has served as a vice president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. His many duties included chairing seven boards—LLUAHSC, LLU, LLUMC, LLUBMC, Oakwood College, the International Board of Ministerial Training and Education, and the International Board of Education. Among his numerous General Conference responsibilities, he has chaired three committees—constitution and bylaws, policy review, and theological education.

On November 10, 1993, Dr. Rock (top left) and California’s First Lady Gayle Wilson (top right) unveil the sign over the entrance to the new Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Rock is the author of six books: Our God Is Able (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1971); Church Leadership: A Call to Virtue (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1990); The Love of Christ (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1991); Seeing Christ: Windows on His Saving Grace (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1994); Go On! (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1995); and Perspectives: Black Seventh-day Adventists Face the 21st Century, editor (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1996). A seventh book, Ellen White on Perfection, is pending publication. In addition, Dr. Rock has authored numerous articles in Church and lay publications.

Dr. Rock’s wife, Clara, is the youngest child of the late Pastor and Mrs. F. L. Peterson. The Rocks have three daughters: Cheryl, Celia, and Connie; four grandsons, and one granddaughter.

From Jan Paulsen, DTh, BD, president, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
“With his typical servant-leadership style, Dr. Rock has made it obvious to
all with whom he has worked that his desire is for the God of heaven to be
honored and glorified in all that has been attempted in this place. He has tirelessly worked with the administration toward this goal. His positive influence and Christ-centered approach to leadership have been a blessing to all who have come to know him.”

From B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, president & CEO, LLUAHSC
“Your experienced, informed, skillful, spirit-filled leadership was central to the God-dependent problem-solving and planning strategies implemented during the past 11 years. With great wisdom, you kept us focused on our mission and destiny, which led to new and continuing successes. The selfless manner in which you altered your schedule and realigned your many assignments to travel to Loma Linda or be available by phone, whether very early or very late, weekend or holiday, to provide guidance and counsel, is greatly appreciated.”

From Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH,LLUAHSC executive vice president for university affairs
“I’d like to close with a saying that some of you may have heard me use before. It says: Go to the people, live among them, learn from them, love them, start with what they know, build on what they have, and of the greatest leaders, when their work is done, the people will all say, ‘we have done it ourselves.’ Dr. Rock, you are part of this. Thank you for being that type of leader.”

From Neal C. Wilson, past president, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
“It has been an honor to serve on the Loma Linda University Medical Center Board for 39 years, and to have the opportunity to see many changes. It has been my privilege to associate with six different Loma Linda Board chairs and with five different presidents. When I look back and ask, Have I done anything right throughout all these years?

I know there is one thing I did right--that was when it was a conviction of my soul to call to the General Conference a man by the name of Calvin Rock. I knew he had something to share with this world Church. It was a privilege also to recommend to the Board that he become the chair of the Board of Loma Linda University. From that moment, he has established another ‘star-built record of leadership.’”

Loma Linda milestones under guidance and leadership of Dr. Rock:
1973: Dr. Rock becomes a member of the LLU Board of Trustees.
1990: Dr. Rock named chair of Boards of Trustees for LLU and LLUMC. LLU Board votes to formally recognize and designate LLU as a health-sciences university. First patient receives treatment at Proton Treatment Center. Behavioral Medicine Center becomes operational. LLU Cancer Institute is established.
1992: Drayson Center groundbreaking is held.
1993: Children’s Hospital grand opening ceremonies are held.
1994: Dr. Rock becomes chair of LLUBMC board. Groundbreaking held for Rehabilitation Institute.
1995: Dedication ceremonies held for Drayson Center.
1996: Transplantation Institute performs its 50th liver transplant.
1997: Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center is created with Dr. Rock serving as its Board chair. First major expansion to the School of Dentistry in 20 years begins.
1998: Dr. B. Lyn Behrens appointed interim president for LLUMC and LLUCH. LLUMC is ranked among the top 10 percent of hospitals during accreditation review by JCAHO.
1999: LLU receives accreditation for a full 10 years from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
2000: More than 35,000 individuals visit Loma Linda exhibit at General Conference session in Toronto, Canada.
2001: LLU Board of Trustees names Dr. Richard H. Hart as chancellor.

[SCOPE, Spring 2002]