Hulst, Dr. John B. abt 1930-2013

HULST, JACOBY

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg (email)
Date: 1/7/2014 at 14:35:57

Dr. John B. Hulst, the second president of Dordt College, died on Friday, February 8, 2013, in Pella, Iowa, Hulst was 83 years old.

During his tenure as president of Dordt College Hulst helped put in place a strong faculty development program so that Dordt's academic program would prepare students well for their future lives and professions. He broadened Dordt's and its students' connection to people and institutions around the world, bringing in students and professors from other cultures and expanding the available options for off campus programs. Also during his tenure, Dordt's master of education program began, the college received its first $1 million gift, enrollment grew again, the percentage of faculty with Ph.D.s increased, a bold campus plan began to be implemented, and new technology was embraced.

Raised and later ordained in the Christian Reformed Church, Hulst remained a CRC pastor throughout his life. He served two churches in Northwest Iowa, Ireton Christian Reformed Church and First Christian Reformed Church in Orange City, and one in Michigan, Twelfth Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Jenison, before he began teaching theology at Dordt College in 1968. Hulst remained associate pastor at First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center throughout his years at Dordt and preached regularly well into his retirement. He was named one of two Distinguished Alumni of Calvin Theological Seminary in 2011 for "bringing unusual credit to their alma mater by their distinction in Christian ministry."

Dordt College held a special place in the hearts and lives of John and his wife, Louise, who served the college for many years as librarian. Over the years, Hulst moved from theology professor, to campus pastor, to dean of students, to president. He served as president from 1982 to 1996, a time of significant growth and maturity in Dordt College history. The college honored the Hulsts in 2002, naming the renovated library the John and Louise Hulst Library.

Hulst is survived by his wife, Lousie (Jacoby) Hulst of Pella; three daughters; Lizbeth Hulst of San Jose, California; Susan and Jim De Young of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Mary Hulst of Pella; his grandchildren; one brother and one sister.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, February 16, 2013, at Second Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa

Source: Doon Press February 14, 2013