Former William Jessup University President Bryce Jessup dies

Bryce Jessup, the former president of William Jessup University who brought the faith-based university to Rocklin in 2004, died of an apparent heart attack during a backpacking and fishing trip July 28 in Yosemite. Jessup was 85. Jessup served as president of William Jessup University (previously known as San Jose Bible College and San Jose Christian College) from 1984 to 2010. He oversaw the move from San Jose to Rocklin, where enrollment has increased from about 435 students the first year to 1,750 students in 2019. William Jessup University was renamed after William Jessup, the father of Bryce Jessup and founder and former president of the private university. The university has expanded academic and athletic programs since moving to south Placer County. The WASC-accredited, four-year Christian liberal arts university celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2019 and its 15th anniversary in Rocklin. Bryce Jessup worked closely with business, community and church leaders in the Sacramento region and throughout Northern California. "Bryce Jessup has a legacy stream that runs deep through the churches at Northern California and in the lives of hundreds of men and women," said John Jackson, named Jessup University president in 2010. "Bryce was a father figure, mentor and encourager to me personally and to many others." Bayside Church pastor Ray Johnston, a longtime friend of Bryce Jessup, agreed. "Not only was he an integral part of our Bayside family, he was a pillar of strength, goodwill and faith in our community," Johnston wrote on the church's Facebook page. "To say that his presence will be missed is an understatement. There are many good leaders, quite a few great ones, too; but there was only one Bryce Jessup." Eric Hogue, former vice president of advancement at William Jessup University and now vice president for Institutional Advancement with Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colo., worked closely with Jessup. "It takes a faithful and obedient man to physically move a Christian university from one location to another and to do it successfully," Hogue said. "I believe every citizen of Rocklin, Roseville, Loomis and the entirety of Placer County, and those he served for years in San Jose, would all agree, Bryce walked a path of integrity, a hunger for righteousness and an intentional commitment to loving others for the glory of God's name and the gospel of Jesus Christ." Jessup earned his bachelor of theology degree from San Jose Bible College in 1958, followed by bachelor's and master's degrees from Pepperdine University in Malibu and a doctorate of divinity degree from Northwest Christian College (recently renamed Bushnell University). Jessup published numerous articles on leadership and church issues, and he served on multiple nonprofit boards. He was named "Man of Valor" by the Racial Reconciliation Committee of Santa Clara Valley African-Americans in 1999. Jessup received a lifetime achievement award from more than 100 regional church leaders during the Sacramento region's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in 2013 and an award of recognition from the Placer County Board of Supervisors in 2014. Last September, Jessup was honored with Ephraim Williams for a Lifetime Achievement Award during Bayside Church's City Serve event at the Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento. An avid outdoorsman, he celebrated his 65th, 70th, 75th and 80th birthdays by standing on his head at Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. Jessup's son, Jim Jessup, director of church relations for Jessup University, said his father died after hiking and fishing, which were some of his favorite activities, at one of his favorite places, Vogelsong Lake in Yosemite. Jessup is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jo, and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Details about a memorial service are expected soon, with information available on the William Jessup University website (Jessup.edu).