George Pepperdine

George Pepperdine
Born	June 20, 1886 Mound Valley, Kansas
Died	1962 California
Occupation	Businessman, philanthropist
Spouse(s)	Lena Rose Baker Helen Louise Davis.

George Pepperdine (June 20, 1886—1962) was an entrepreneur and Christian philanthropist who was the founder of Pepperdine University in California.

George Pepperdine was born on June 20, 1886, on a farm in Mound Valley, Kansas to a family of English heritage. His parents became members of The Church of Christ after experiencing a powerful conversion during a tent meeting outside of Parsons, Kansas. Pepperdine graduated from Parsons Business College in Parsons, Kansas.

In 1909, at the age of twenty-three, he started Western Auto Supply Company with an initial investment of five dollars. With the rise in popularity of the automobile, Pepperdine's business thrived, providing high-quality automotive products and services through many retail stores. He moved to California in 1916.

In February 1937, during the Great Depression, he founded the Pepperdine University as a Christian liberal arts college in the city of Los Angeles. On September 21, 1937, 167 new students from 22 different states and two other countries entered classes on a newly built campus on 34 acres (14 ha) in South Central Los Angeles, referred to later as the Vermont Avenue campus. By April 6, 1938, George Pepperdine College was fully accredited by the Northwest Association.

He had a desire to discover "how humanity can be helped most with the means entrusted to [his] care. [He] consider[ed] it wrong to build up a great fortune and use it selfishly." Pepperdine voiced his twofold objective for the college that bore his name, "First, we want to provide first-class, fully accredited academic training in the liberal arts ... Secondly, we are especially dedicated to a greater goal—that of building in the student a Christ-like life, a love for the church, and a passion for the souls of mankind."

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