OBU’s Founders’ Day Celebration Wednesday

February 7, 2002

Oklahoma Baptist University will celebrate 92 years of strong academics and spiritual leadership on Bison Hill Wednesday during the university's annual Founders' Day chapel service.

The 10 a.m. heritage chapel program is set aside each year to recognize the support OBU receives from Baptist churches throughout Oklahoma and to remember the university's nine decades of providing Christian liberal arts education in Shawnee. OBU's articles of incorporation were granted on Feb. 9, 1910.

Dr. Mark Brister, OBU President, will deliver the Founders' Day message. Brister will recognize emeriti faculty and administrators and dedicate the day to honor those who have devoted their lives to scholarship and whose talents inspire current students and faculty on Bison Hill.

The Bisonettes, OBU's select women's chorus, will present the special music, along with organist Dr. Ron Davis, associate professor of organ. The Bisonettes are under the direction of Jack Pearson, associate professor of music at OBU.

Odus Compton, director of religious activities at OBU, will read scripture and lead the student body in prayer.

Brister became OBU's 14th president Sept. 1, 1998.

He came to OBU from the pastorate of Broadmoor Baptist Church, Shreveport, La. He had served at the church, which has almost 6,000 members, since 1989.

A graduate of Baylor University, Brister received his master of divinity and doctor of philosophy from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received the Albert Venting Jr. Memorial Award as the outstanding graduate in the School of Theology.

During Brister's tenure the university has continued to receive national recognition for quality academic and spiritual life programs.