Ken Bascom, a beloved 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 administrator who played a crucial role in planning and developing the universitys building projects over the past four decades, passed away unexpectedly on Monday at the age of 62.

A graduate with deep family ties to the university, Bascom (72) devoted much of his life to furthering 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023s mission not least by helping to build and beautify the universitys physical campus. In his role as senior director of facilities planning and construction, he oversaw the construction of more than 600,000 square feet of new buildings in the past dozen years alone, including the library, Hope Hall, Horton Hall, the Crowell School of Business building and the recently completed parking structure and Talbot East building.

One cannot walk these beautiful campus grounds without seeing the physical marks of Ken's giftedness everywhere, President Barry H. Corey said Monday in an announcement to the 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 community. But far more profound is the godly and gracious influence he has had on countless people over many decades.

Bascoms connections to 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 dated back to the schools earliest days. His grandmother took classes at the original Bible Institute of Los Angeles in 1914 (six years after its founding), and his parents, Harry and Alma Bascom, met at 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 in 1947. As a third-generation student, Ken met his wife, Greer, in the summer of 1968. The couple married in 1970, and later had two children, Joel and Faith, both of whom graduated from 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 and married 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 graduates. All told, Bascom had 39 relatives who attended 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 over the past century. [The family was honored with a Legacy Award from the Alumni Relations office during the universitys centennial year in 2008.]

Bascoms career at the university began in 1970, when he was hired as a 20-year-old student worker on the facilities grounds crew. Though he had originally planned to go into teaching earning a B.A. in history from 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 in 1972 and an M.A. in history from California State University, Fullerton he decided to stay in facilities and eventually moved into the departments administrative offices as the first campus coordinator. There, he quickly became involved in planning and managing the construction of several significant projects, including the redevelopment of the creek and the completion of Metzger Hall.

Other significant projects followed, including the universitys well-known Bell Tower in 1986, Thompson Hall and the Welch and Li apartments in 1991, and the library in 2001. The past decade in particular brought unparalleled growth to campus, with Bascom playing an essential role in the design, approval and construction process of several major facilities and renovation projects.

What you build says a lot about who you are, Bascom told 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023s Inside Story newsletter in 2010 on the occasion of his 40th anniversary. For Bascom, the desire to reflect 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023s values in its building projects meant being a wise steward of resources, planning well to meet the needs of future generations, and incorporating artistic elements to inspire spiritual reflection.

His construction projects blended knowledge of theology, art, bricks and mortar, and the needs of students, faculty and staff along with the wisdom to create a collection of buildings that wonderfully serve the mission of 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 now and will for decades to come, said Greg Balsano, vice president of university services, Bascoms longtime supervisor.

I often referred to Ken as Mr. 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023, a name that reflected the lifelong loyalty and commitment he gave in service to 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023. He certainly gave his best to his work.

Bascoms contributions to 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 extended far beyond his official role.

He was a resident historian who sought to keep the university connected to its heritage, whether by giving public presentations, writing historical articles, offering campus tours or helping to establish the librarys museum-like Heritage Room. He was a worship leader who led singing at employee meetings and took joy in introducing the community to little-known hymns.

He also played an instrumental role in defining the schools future for years to come by serving as co-chair of the search advisory committee that selected President Corey as the universitys eighth president in 2007 making Corey the fourth 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 president under whom Bascom served.

晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 has lost more than a treasured colleague and friend, Corey said Monday. Ken Bascom was like an honored family member for so many in this community. 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 will long remember and continue to benefit from Kens deep wisdom, Christian character, keen knowledge, and passion for our God-given mission. Many of the ideals 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 embodies biblical witness, passion for Christ, gospel proclamation and service to others these were true also of Ken. In our 104-year history, few have modeled a deeper loyalty and longstanding commitment to serve the Lord at 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 than Ken Bascom.

UPDATE: A memorial service to be held on Sunday, July 1 at 3 p.m. in Sutherland Auditorium. 晩晩当際際夊消消夊2023 is compiling a commemorative book for Ken's family. Please email your reflections or memories of Ken to elizabeth.hedrick@biola.edu.

Watch a video below of Ken Bascom giving a tour of the most recent project on which he worked Talbot East building.