Dr. H. Orton Wiley
(1877-1961)

Dr. Ross Price (who was apparently Dr. Wiley’s protégé) described Dr. Wiley’s family as "sod-breaking pioneer stock" who were members of the United Brethren Church. Dr. Wiley apparently had no temperament for farming. However, he would show an abnormally high interest in many different fields of learning. He attended the Oregon State Normal School, where he earned a certificate enabling him to teach high school in the state of Oregon. Following this, he enlisted in a program to register as a pharmacist with the Oregon State Board of Pharmacy. In 1902, he was licensed to preach by the United Brethren denomination. While continuing his education in Berkeley in 1905, he met Dr. Phineas Bresee, who would recognize Dr. Wiley’s talent, recruit him into the Church of the Nazarene, and later charge Dr. Wiley with a deathbed promise to "stand by the college." Why did Bresee ask for this promise? Dr. Ronald Kirkemo says, "Wiley was attempting to integrate three different elements of a person—the quiet and searching intellect, the wise and cultured character, and the revivalistic emotion. In Bresee and Wiley’s view the three were not incompatible. Each one alone was dangerous; balanced they would produce a whole person, fit for the work of Zion." 

In 1910, he was elected Dean of Deets Pacific Bible College, and Vice-President of Nazarene University. He served in this capacity under Dr. Bresee and E. P. Ellyson before being appointed President himself. This first term lasted from 1913-1916. During this time, enrollment increased from 79 to 429 students (a nearly 450% increase). In 1916, he resigned the position of the presidency stating that he was not given the power necessary to perform his job.

About this first term, Dr. James Proctor Knott would state, "The first term of H. Orton Wiley as President of the institution was one that would have tried the mettle of much older and more seasoned men. Considerable tension and honest difference of opinion arose in the Southern California District of the church. This condition seriously affected the school and added to the cares and burdens of the young president who had had nothing to do with the emergence of the tension. He remained loyally at his post of duty working for the best interests of the school during a period of unusual restlessness. In fact, it is to be doubted if any other one could have held the school together as well as he did. His gentle spirit and quiet patience constituted, perhaps, the best antidote to the situation which could have been devised." "And further still, Pasadena College must be given the utmost consideration. This institution, which was particularly the pride and joy of Dr. Bresee, and to which he gave much of his time and strength, can never under any consideration be allowed to suffer decline...

The last year has witnessed great advances--the entire indebtedness covered in cash and subscriptions, an increase in attendance, an enthusiastic constituency, a scholarly and devoted faculty, and a loyal board of competent and godly men, together with a tide of spiritual victory and a general atmosphere of hopefulness and expectancy--all this indicates that Pasadena College is on the verge of even greater things."

--Dr. H. Orton Wiley, "The Editor's Apology", Herald of Holiness, July 25th, 1928 (this was written shortly after Dr. Wiley had resigned as Pasadena College President to become the Herald of Holiness editor.)
 
After a brief stint as pastor of Berkeley First Church, Dr. Wiley was elected as president of Northwest Nazarene College for ten years. In addition to his duties as president there, he also taught many classes, and was the General Secretary of the Department of Education of the general church (from 1919 and onward). He also served on most of the editorial committees for the Nazarene Manual, was a frequent chapel speaker, and often gave evening devotional talks in the college chapel. However, almost immediately after his ten year contract expired, Wiley resigned and returned to the presidency of Pasadena College. Price notes that "a contributing factor in his decision to return to California was the health of his oldest daughter, Pearl, for whom the doctors seem to have prescribed a lower altitude and an area less filled with plant pollen." Knott describes his ten years there as "ten unforgettable years of toil and sacrifice, laying the foundations for a college of deep spiritual ideals to serve the Church of the Nazarene in fulfilling its worldwide call to Evangelism."

Wiley returned to the presidency of Pasadena College when it was in dire straits. Wiley himself was quoted by Knott as saying, "When I came as president of Pasadena College in 1926, the institution was not only heavily in debt, but so indifferent to the college was the constituency, that there were no openings for us to visit the churches. Our quartette and other workers were not generally acceptable." The combination of the large financial needs of a fledgling college and an additional financial crisis caused by half the student body departing after a theological split created an image of a fiscally irresponsible institution. Dr. Wiley’s return helped mend that image. Dr. Wiley stayed with the college for two years. During that time, Dr. Wiley and Jack Sanders, the College’s financial manager helped to alleviate the debt. In 1928, Dr. Wiley left again to take over the editorship of The Herald of Holiness (the official magazine of the Church of the Nazarene). Dr. Orval J. Nease took over the presidency of the college.

In 1933, Dr. Wiley returned to the College for a third term in the Presidency. Again, the College was indebted, this time due to building expenses and the effects of the Great Depression. By 1938, the College was again free of debt. Dr. Wiley remained in the position until 1949, when he asked the Board of Trustees to be permanently relieved of administrative duties. This request was granted, and in return for his many years of service (twenty-two years over three terms as President in addition to service in other offices), Dr. Wiley was named the first and only President Emeritus in this institution’s history. Dr. Wiley continued to teach classes (certain subjects were reserved for him to teach) until January 1961. He died in August of that year.

Kirkemo states that a well-worn cliché is that "A college is a lengthened shadow of the president." Wiley certainly proved this true. Though his work, his three goals of a graduate program in religion, financial stability and accreditation were accomplished. Dr. Wiley helped the college adopt its current liberal arts focus, with his thinking that the Bible "deals with salvation, not with science". Thus, "devout Christians could differ on their understandings, but all [seek] to use learning to understand God and His sovereignty."