Rev. Quentin Garman Memorial Scholarship

For those who knew Pastor Quentin Garman, the term “bigger than life” describes his personality but fails to encompass some of his unique character traits. Nonetheless, all will agree that “Quent” embraced life with open arms and was God’s ambassador wherever life took him.

For 35 years, Quent served as parish pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in San Diego, which he founded after completing his service as Navy Chaplain during World War II. During that same time, he served as a founding CLU Convocator, a position he held faithfully for the rest of his life. He also served as a CLU regent for 19 years, from 1960 to 1979, and served a three-year term as Board Chair. A fellow regent made this comment: “He was full of good ideas, outspoken, a model and a great leader.” In tribute to Quent’s unparalleled service to the University, CLU awarded him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1971 and, posthumously, the coveted Christus Award in 1999.

Any consideration of Quent Garman’s life would be incomplete without mention of his deep love of sports—all sports. He lettered in basketball, soccer and tennis while attending Gettysburg College and carried these activities into his adult life. He was the consummate competitor. He pioneered a slow-pitch softball association in Pacific Beach and played in a variety of leagues himself for six decades.

Quent and his wife Jeanette sent all four of their children to CLC to pursue their college degrees—Andy ‘70, Wally ‘67, Sallie ‘75, and Jim ‘77. Andy, who shared many of Quent’s characteristics, followed in his father’s footsteps, entering the ministry and serving as pastor of La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, for many years.

This memorial scholarship was the result of many generous gifts—from the entire Garman family, from members of Christ Lutheran Church in San Diego, from members of La Casa de Cristo Church in Scottsdale, and from Quent Garman’s many CLU friends. Interestingly, Quent’s own last gift to CLU was made in honor of his dear friend and regent colleague, Walter Danielson.

The Garman family would have preferred to make the Rev. Quentin Garman Memorial Scholarship an athletic award, but that was not possible under the rules for SCIAC Division III of which CLU is a member school. Therefore they chose instead to designate the award for an upper-division student pursuing a major in sports medicine or kinesiology. The first scholarship award was made in 2001.