Heritage Snapshot: Part 137

In 1938, Larry Havstad, Loma Linda’s “Master Builder,” “retired,” bought a farm on the Columbia River, and moved his family back to the State of Washington. But Loma Linda College of Medical Evangelists administrators thought differently. In returning to Loma Linda to build the Physiology building in 1940, he left home in a brand new Dodge Canopy Express. As he drove through Southern Oregon, north of Lakeview with his family and some of his equipment and surveying instruments, a front wheel came off, causing the car to leave the roadway and tumble end over end. The accident threw Larry through the canvas top of the car. When he landed among an outcropping of boulders he broke his right shoulder blade. His little daughter Martha broke her right arm at the shoulder, and his son Jimmie was cut up and had his face bloodied. A dentist, nurse, and physician arrived in the first three cars, performed first aid on the Havstad family, and rushed them to a hospital in Lakeview. Because Larry had to get to Loma Linda, he called a car dealer and bought a new car. The next day Larry and his family went to San Francisco, took delivery of the new car, and headed for Loma Linda. Because of his injuries, Larry could drive only with his left hand. After getting to Loma Linda, Alton D. Butterfield, MD, bound Havstad’s right shoulder with bandages, put his right arm in a sling, and commanded Larry not to use it. But because Havstad’s supervisor got sick and he had to survey the job, and because he felt inconvenienced having his right arm immobilized against his chest, Larry unwound some of the bandages and started surveying the construction site. Soon someone tapped him on his shoulder. When he looked around, he saw Dr. Butterfield. “This is just what I was suspecting,” said the good doctor, “and I came out to check on you. Now you get back in there and let me fix you up!” Dr. Butterfield tied up Larry again so that he made a complete recovery and he continued building the Physiology Building, later named Risley Hall. During World War II, the US government started building the Pasco Holding and Reconsignment Point, the biggest military material yard in the United States. The US Army Corps of Engineers “hastled” Larry into helping them. Following the war the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists enlisted Havstad’s help to build the Washington Sanitarium and Hospital, the Riverside Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, and projects at Oakwood College in Alabama. Between 1946 and 1950, Havstad made 45 trips around the United States. In 1950 CME pressured Larry to participate in expansion projects at Loma Linda, including the library and administration building, the School of Dentistry, and the Graduate School. Havstad had the highest regard for M. Webster Prince, DDS, first dean of the School of Dentistry. “I met a man who really lived up to his name…for he was a prince among men. He was a man of integrity and possessed a sound academic and professional background. I have never worked with a man such as this. He challenged the best in me and always indicated his trust and confidence in me.” (The School of Dentistry building was named Prince Hall on January 28, 1970.) Next Havstad built a major addition to the White Memorial Hospital, the White Memorial Church, and some apartments. The $660,000 budget for the White addition was regarded by many as entirely inadequate. When Havstad finished the job, the total cost was $550,000. Havstad offered one of the reasons for his ability to finish a project under budget. “I can truly say that one of the greatest ambitions of my life has been to save money for the future development of Loma Linda and to make every dollar go as far as we could possibly stretch it.” Havstad moved back to Loma Linda in 1962, in time to expand the Physiology and Anatomy buildings, build a new Biochemistry building, the student Activities Center, and the Loma Linda Market. His biggest project was the University Hospital, a joint venture with Del E. Webb, built from 1964 to 1967. Together with Architect Earl Heitschmidt, the three spent 18 months comparing different structural systems, planning the building, and comparing costs. In 1971 he stated, “…although I have been wanting to retire, I find still in my blood the desire to serve this institution that I believe was ordained of God as the greatest single instrumentality that this denomination has.” The Havstads created a sizeable trust to benefit Loma Linda University. “We sincerely trust that this will be a great help in promoting the aims and purposes of this great institution…. I feel secure in the monies which we have invested in this institution, and I hope that we can all use our influence to enlarge and expand this program so that it can completely fulfill Loma Linda’s mission in this world of need.” After completing 37 years of involvement in Loma Linda, including membership on the University Councilors, Havstad looked back with mixed emotions. “I wish that somehow or other I could have accomplished more, but I am so grateful for the privilege of having served here. I feel that Loma Linda [University] and the College of Medical Evangelists have permitted me to fulfill the greatest mission of my life; that of making a substantial contribution to the cause of God in this earth…. Altogether, it has been a long and fruitful experience for us, and I just wish I could turn the clock back and do it all over again.”