In 1938, Larry C. Havstad “retired,” bought a farm on the Columbia River, and moved his family back to the State of Washington. But CME administrators thought differently. In returning to Loma Linda to build the Physiology building, 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 construction 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. 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 in San Francisco and bought a new car. The next day Larry and his family 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 Edward Risley Hall.
During World War II, the United States government started building the Pasco Holding and Reconsignment Point, the biggest military material yard in the United States. The US Army Corps of Engineers “hassled” 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, D.D.S., 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.”
In the meantime, one of Larry’s reasons for returning to Loma Linda was to provide his wife with professional help. Mrs. Havstad suffered a series of strokes, became totally helpless, and died in early 1954.
Next, Havstad built the White Memorial Church, a major addition to the White Memorial Hospital, and some apartments. The $660,000 budget for “the White” addition, on the Los Angeles campus of CME, 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.”