Burton Thorpe Memorial Scholarship

When Burton “Burt” Thorpe first became a regent at Cal Lutheran in 1968, he was working as the manager of administrative services at the Union Oil Center in Los Angeles. Burt had worked for Union Oil for 26 years in various managerial positions through the Western states. At the time of his appointment to the board of regents, he was exactly the type of leader CLC was looking for. He had graduated from Pacific Lutheran University before earning his Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern University in Los Angeles. Even more importantly, he was a man of integrity with a heart for Lutheran higher education.

Helen Thorpe was Burt’s wife and the mother of their four children—a son and three daughters. The entire family was actively involved in the activities of their church, Hill Avenue Grace Lutheran in Pasadena. Burt was also active in the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and he served on several civic boards such as the YMCA. Burt and Helen were especially proud of the fact that they were among the early CLC Fellows, a special designation for those who provided regular support to the college in its early years.

Burt served on the board of regents for 10 years, from 1968 to 1978. During his second term as regent, he was elected vice chairman. His strong leadership style led the board to choose him to become its chair in 1979. But a malignant brain tumor claimed Burt’s life before he could take office. With his death in November 1978 the board and the college lost a strong supporter and leader. In paying tribute to Burt’s life, CLC’s president Mark Mathews stated, “Burt Thorpe gave witness to his Christian faith in the life he lived and the avenues of service he chose to take. One of those was his devoted service to California Lutheran College.”

A memorial scholarship fund in Burt’s name was immediately created. Because one of his daughters was a nurse, the scholarship was initially designated for a student enrolled in CLC’s short-lived nursing program. In 1985 Helen Thorpe modified the criteria of the Burton Thorpe Memorial Scholarship to serve students, preferably female, majoring in biology or physical therapy. To be eligible for this scholarship, a student must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 and be a junior or senior.