Lloyd E. Biggs
1893-1973
Lloyd E. Biggs was an ordained minister, a conference treasurer, and a conference president who also played violin. A 1915 graduate of Walla Walla College, now University, Biggs, while still a student, conducted the college orchestra and taught violin in return for the fees collected from his students. He enjoyed performing and was one of the first Adventists to play in the symphony in nearby Walla Walla. A tall, slender man, he provided a familiar and amusing sight as he pedaled his bicycle around town with his violin tucked under his arm.
After graduating from WWC, Biggs served as a secretary-treasurer in several conferences in the U.S. and in South Africa. He was president of the Southeastern California Conference from 1940 to 1944 and later of the Oregon Conference. He ended his years of service as Religious Liberty Secretary of the North Pacific Union Conference.
A few years after retiring, Biggs offered to raise money to help complete the church organ installation in the Walla Walla College, now University, Church. Melvin West later recalled how he volunteered:
I had been asked to play a solo on the organ during the Education Hour for camp meeting. I had chosen the Vierne Carillon de Westminster. Biggs came up after the meeting and said, "Dr. West, I really appreciated hearing you play, but I think your organ is minus quite a few stops, " which he proceeded to list.
Then he looked right at me and asked, "Would you mind if I raised the rest of the money for the organ?" I was stunned and said, "What did you say?" Well, that was the beginning of a friendship that lasted until he passed away. He did exactly what he said, challenging the college board to match him on a one-to-one basis.
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Sources: Dan Shultz, A Great Tradition, Music at Walla Walla College, 1892-1992, 32, 33, 149, 151, 152, 241, 242;
Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, Volume 10, Revised Edition, 1976, (Review and Herald Publishing Association) 163; Obituary, Pacific union Recorder, 17 December 1973.