Former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary president dies at 92

By 
 June 23, 2023

Alumni of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary were left grieving this week after one of its former presidents died at the age of 92. 

According to Baptist Press, Russell H. Dilday Jr. passed away in Dallas on Tuesday and is remembered fondly at the institution he once led.

Current college president "always appreciated" Dilday's leadership

David S. Dockery serves as the current president of Southwestern Seminary, and he issued a statement that read, "Russell Dilday had just come to serve as president of Southwestern Seminary when I came to Southwestern as a student."

"As a student, I always appreciated his leadership for the seminary and his care for students," Dockery recalled, adding, "He worked tirelessly to strengthen the faculty, enhance the facilities, and to grow the endowment during these early years of his presidency."

"Southwestern continues to be blessed by these faithful efforts. We join with many across Baptist life in offering our prayers for and expressing our Christian sympathy to the Dilday family at this time," Dockery concluded.

Dilday led a 9-year-old friend to Christ when he was a child

Chancellor O.S. Hawkins spoke up as well, saying, "I thank God for Russell Dilday. Although we were on different sides of the Southern Baptist Convention divide, I never lost my love and respect for him."

"Southwestern Seminary saw some of its greatest days during his presidency. He loved the Lord and left a legacy," Hawkins stressed.

Baptist Press noted that Dilday became a Christian when he was 9-years-old and then led a friend to Christ a year later while at revival meeting organized by evangelist and Southwestern Seminary trustee George W. Truett.

"I had no inkling that [Truett] was serving as the chairman of the board of trustees of the world’s greatest seminary where God would lead me as a student, as adjunct teacher, and later as president," Dilday was quoted as saying of the experience.

Dilday met his wife, Betty Doyen, while he was studying at Baylor University and the pair married before he began pursuing his master of divinity at Southwestern Seminary.

Former president remembered fondly as "a great encouragement"

Dilday went on to become a pastor at Antelope Baptist Church in Jack County, Texas but ultimately returned to Southwestern Seminary where he began as an adjunct professor.

Dilday was remembered on social media by those who knew him, including one man who tweeted, "Russell became my pastor when I was in high school. Years later when led to leave the business world for full time ministry, he was a great encouragement."

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