Ruth and Thomas Maxwell Scholarship for International Students

When Dr. Tom Maxwell retired from CLU in 1986, he had served as professor of anthropology for 21 years and had also worked for nine years at Inter-American University of Puerto Rico. Teaching was in his nature but more than that, love for God’s creation was the motivating force of his life. At different times, Tom was called a naturalist, conservationist, anthropologist, archaeologist, genealogist and historian. All are accurate.

It all began when Tom was 11 and he read a book called The Romance of Archaeology. That was when he knew what he wanted to do with his life. And he never altered course. He earned his baccalaureate degree in geology and advanced degrees in anthropology and archaeology. He taught archaeology in Puerto Rico and later completed projects in Belize, Costa Rica, Peru, Spain and the United States. It was in 1942, during his freshman year at Mount Union College, that Tom was drafted to fight in World War II. When he returned, the geology department no longer existed, and Tom completed his undergraduate work at the College of Wooster.

Tom and Ruth were married in 1950. In 1965, with three children in tow, the Maxwells moved to Thousand Oaks, and Tom assumed a teaching position as professor of anthropology at CLC. Their home on Luther Avenue was part of the CLU campus, and Ruth participated in many activities with other faculty wives and with Church Women United. They celebrated 58 years of marriage together before her death in 2009.

Tom was also part missionary. As a member of the United Methodist Church, he participated in a Methodist mission to Chile, where he conducted archaeological research. The purpose of the mission was to educate Indian youth about ways to be proud of their communities. They were taught irrigation, farming techniques and animal care as well as English and Aymara.

In retirement, Tom continued his love affair with nature by coordinating Coast-walk in Ventura County, contributing to the Audubon Society and Elderhostel programs, and conducting countless hikes for the Conejo Parks & Recreation District and the Sierra Club. With so much knowledge of the area, it was not surprising that Tom also found time to write. He published two books, one in 1982 and a second in 2000.

In 1995 Tom and Ruth established a scholarship “to encourage Christian service and improvement of life in third-world countries by providing the opportunity of higher education at CLU.” Recipients of the endowed Ruth and Thomas Maxwell Scholarship for International Students are to be from countries partially or entirely within the Tropics. They must be willing to provide service to CLU while enrolled as students.