Hiring Ambassador College’s New President

In December 1946, the idea of founding a college immediately led Mr. Armstrong to contact his brother-in-law, Walter E. Dillon (Mrs. Armstrong’s brother). Mr. Dillon held a Master’s degree in education from the University of Oregon, and was a teacher, and later the principal of one of the largest public schools in Oregon. Between 1922 and 1924, Mr. Armstrong coached and helped his brother-in-law win speech contests at Iowa’s Simpson College, and to go on to also win the state contest. Since then, the two men had been closer than their own brothers.

Mr. Armstrong was convinced that Walter Dillon, due to his extensive background as an education administrator and experienced teacher, was the man he needed to be president of the college. After giving it much thought, Mr. Dillon accepted the position.

Next, Mr. Armstrong published a special edition of The Plain Truth (the January-February 1947 issue), using it to recruit students by announcing the fall start of their new college—Ambassador College.

During a friendly discussion, Mr. Armstrong expressed his concern for the need to train students in several foreign languages so that the gospel could spread to all nations. He wanted them to be able to speak these languages like a native—without a foreign accent. Therefore, the average college foreign language course was insufficient. To achieve what Mr. Armstrong wanted, students would need to live in these foreign countries and learn their languages through everyday experience. This led to the idea of starting a second college, in Europe. Dr. B. said he knew of a villa in Lugano, Switzerland, that would be ideal.

Mr. Armstrong gave the idea extensive thought, then further discussed it with Dr. B., who suggested they both travel to Europe and see the property. Switzerland was a nation of several languages, so it seemed ideal for students to learn various languages. Mr. Armstrong decided to go immediately.

With Mrs. Armstrong accompanying them, they booked passage aboard the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship, which was to leave port on February 19. At almost a quarter mile long, 14 decks tall, about twice the weight of a large battleship, and carrying 3,500 passengers, the Queen Elizabeth was, at the time, the largest passenger liner ever built.
Six days later, the Armstrongs arrived in England, docking at Southampton.

Attending a Royal Reception

Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong checked in at London’s Dorchester Hotel. The next day, when Mr. Armstrong noticed several Arab officials in the hotel lobby, he asked the reception desk if Sheik Hafiz Wabba was in the hotel. He was not, but the sheik did come to this hotel quite often.

The next day, the sheik’s private secretary telephoned him. She told Mr. Armstrong that His Excellency had heard that he was in London, and wished to invite him and Mrs. Armstrong to attend a royal reception to be held that evening in the hotel’s ballroom. The sheik desired to speak with Mr. Armstrong again, as they had done two years previously in San Francisco. The reception—which was in honor of His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, Emir Saud, who later became King Saud of Saudi Arabia—would be the only opportunity to chat, since the sheik planned to leave the next morning.

At the reception, the Armstrongs mingled with an international crowd of lords, ladies, earls, dukes, admirals, commodores, ambassadors and other dignitaries. Later, they were given a private talk with the sheik, who offered a statement that was later published in The Plain Truth.

A Property With Potential

Resuming their trip, Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong caught a sleeping car from France and made their way to Switzerland, where they inspected the potential campus site there. Mr. Armstrong described Lugano as “the Swiss Riviera…different from our mountain or lake scenery,” and called the villa “the most beautiful and elegant interior” he and Mrs. Armstrong had ever seen. He saw that it could house 40 to 50 students and offer six classrooms, a library, a lounge and a dining hall. It certainly appeared that the second campus of God’s college should begin there.

Mr. Armstrong was so impressed with the property’s potential, he wrote, “I have decided DEFINITELY and FINALLY on the Swiss branch of Ambassador. The idea is right. But the PLACE is still open for investigation.”

But it was not to be. God was not ready to start a European campus—at least not at that time. And Mr. Armstrong eventually found out that the place God would choose, over a decade later, would not be in Switzerland.

Having ended their European adventure, Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong traveled back to America aboard the Queen Elizabeth, docking in New York in late March, and returning to Eugene, Oregon a few days later.

Putting aside further plans regarding a European branch of the college, Mr. Armstrong focused his attention on making Ambassador College in Pasadena a reality.

Receiving Applications

The special January-February edition of The Plain Truth, which announced the future college in Pasadena, brought in many applications from prospective faculty members. All were well-educated and had previous teaching experience.

One application came from Dr. H.O. Taylor, chairman emeritus of Wheaton College’s department of physics. He held a Ph.D. from Cornell University, had taught at Cornell, Harvard, and MIT, and was a U.S. naval consultant. Dr. Taylor professed to be a Christian. He was appointed dean of instruction and registrar of Ambassador College.

Another applicant was a high school English teacher who held Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University and the University of Oregon. She was hired as the English instructor. The French instructor was born and educated in France. The history and Spanish instructor held an M.A. from Colorado University. The head of the music department was a graduate of Chicago Musical College. The woman who became Ambassador College’s librarian had served on the staff of the Library of Congress and held degrees in music. The director of physical education had an M.S. from the University of Southern California and had been in charge of the U.S. Navy’s physical fitness program.

These, along with Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Dillon, were Ambassador College’s first faculty.

Buying a New Home

Returning to Pasadena on March 27, Mr. Armstrong turned his attention to finding a home. Mrs. McCormick, the real estate broker, had three places lined up for him to inspect. The first two were not suitable, but the third was just right, and only three miles from the campus. The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Williams, were only willing to sell it to those who would lovingly take care of the property. They took an instant liking to Mrs. Armstrong, and agreed to sell their home for half the listed price. With no down payment or interest, the Armstrongs were to make quarterly payments. The Williams would take a trust deed, while giving possession and the deed in 90 days, when the second payment was to be made.

This was an unbelievable deal! Even Mrs. McCormick said, “It’s like a miracle.”

Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong figured out that the money they had been forced to spend eating out at restaurants, due to living in motels, was almost the same amount as the payments. By buying the house and eating economical home-cooked meals, their new home would not cost them any more than what they had already been spending.

Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong rejoiced to receive this grand blessing, signing the contract on April 1, 1947.

Trouble From Dr. B.

Though he appeared to be a friend to Mr. Armstrong, Dr. B. actually had a secret agenda. His plan was to keep the monthly lease payments and keep the property. Mr. Armstrong soon became aware of his scheme, and, turning to God rather than relying upon himself, was able to thwart his efforts. But this did not happen overnight. It involved many trials, obstacles and headaches—which, if God had not intervened, would have ensured that Ambassador College never got off the ground.

For example, Dr. B. had assured Mr. Armstrong that the property he was purchasing was of solid concrete, fireproof construction. The two architects Mr. Armstrong had hired said the same thing.

However, a month before the school’s inaugural opening, Pasadena building inspectors bored inside the outer layer of hard concrete and found that the structure was actually a frame building—one that did not meet the codes to qualify as a classroom building!

Before they could officially use the building as a college, all walls and ceilings had to be torn out and replaced with fire resistant construction! When the walls were being torn out, the inspector ordered that new electric conduits were required throughout, along with all new plumbing pipes! This extensive work added up to be a $30,000 nightmare!

Mr. Armstrong sent a letter to the brethren and co-workers, explaining this desperate situation. They were moved into action, many sending in thousands of dollars. One man—a farmer who wanted others to receive the type of higher education he had been denied growing up—sent most of his life’s savings. Another radio listener mortgaged his home, loaning the money to Mr. Armstrong, without requiring security.

The people who responded to this emergency letter had taken Christ’s teachings to heart. They were doers, not just listeners, of God’s Word, and believed that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Their hearts, as well as tithes and contributions, were in God’s Work.

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