50. George Whitworth

The founder of Whitworth University was born in England, fascinated as a boy with the exploits of adventurers like David Thompson and others. Later in life, he determined to join in the missionary effort to the Pacific Northwest, and arrived in the mid 19th century as a church planter and pastor. His ranging interests and abilities involved him in many other occupations, however, not the least of which was the establishment of Sumner Adacemy, the forerunner of the university that bears his name. George Whitworth was a surveyor, farmer, activist, college president, but behind it all, he was a man of passionate Christian commitment and faith, and the deep and lasting legacy of his life continues to leave its imprint on the part of the world he so dearly loved.