THOUSAND OAKS : Former Regent of Cal Lutheran Receives Award

Erling H. Wold, a founding regent of Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, has been honored with a Distinguished Service Award from his alma mater, Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

“I was profoundly grateful,” said the retired Lutheran pastor who now volunteers at Cal Lutheran.

Wold, 77, went to Luther College in 1934 because several teachers he admired were alumni of the now 133-year-old institution. Never having visited the campus, he hitchhiked the 800 miles from his hometown in North Dakota to Decorah.

Wold received a degree in the classics from Luther College in 1938 and a degree in theology from Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., in 1942--the year he married his wife, Margaret, a 1941 alumna of Luther College. In 1950, Wold also earned a master of sacred theology degree from Chicago Lutheran Seminary.

Wold, the son of a grain elevator operator, grew up in Maddock, N.D., population 775. He always knew, he said, that one day he would be a minister.

“I was captivated by Jesus,” he said. “He won my heart and I said, ‘I want to thank you with my life.’ ”

Wold has since served as the pastor of churches in Fort Worth, Tex.; Grand Forks, N.D.; North Hollywood, and Garden Grove. He most recently came back briefly from retirement to serve as interim pastor at Westlake Lutheran Church in Westlake Village, working there from June, 1991, to December, 1992, until the congregation had selected a new pastor.

“His warmth comes through,” said Evelyn Colby, the church’s volunteer coordinator. “He’s able to bring you into his sermon in so many ways with his love of the Lord and the Scripture.”

Officials at Luther College said they gave Wold the Distinguished Service Award because he exemplified an ideal of Christian faith.

“He is one of the most inspiring gentlemen I’ve ever met,” said Kirk Johnson, the college’s associate alumni director.

Wold and his wife, who also has theological training, now volunteer as “senior mentors” to students at Cal Lutheran.