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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

Oklahoma Baptist University to Inaugurate President May 1

January 16, 2009

As Oklahoma Baptist University prepares to celebrate 100 years of history, it will commemorate the beginning of a new era on May 1 with the inauguration of the University's 15th president, Dr. David Wesley Whitlock.

The University community and its friends will gather for inaugural ceremonies at 10 a.m. May 1 in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium. Dr. Bob R. Agee, who served as OBU's 13th president from 1982-98, will present the inaugural address. A resident of Jackson, Tenn., Agee is the retired executive director of the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities.

An inaugural worship service is planned for Thursday, April 30, at 7 p.m. in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium. The public is invited to attend the worship service and inauguration.

Whitlock assumed OBU's presidency on Nov. 1, 2008, succeeding John W. Parrish, who served as interim president for nearly one year, and Dr. Mark Brister, who served as OBU's 14th president from 1998-2007. Before coming to Bison Hill, Whitlock served as the associate provost and dean of the college of business and computer science at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. He also served as a professor of business at the university.

Prior to joining the Missouri Baptist institution, he taught for 14 years at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He joined the SEOSU faculty in 1985 as an instructor of business, was promoted to assistant professor in 1991 and associate professor in 1996. He was named chair of the university's business information management program in 1995 and served in that role until moving to SBU.

In addition to his academic work, Whitlock served in a bi-vocational role as co-pastor of Wellspring Baptist Fellowship in Bolivar, Mo., from 2002-08. He was bi-vocational pastor of Silo Baptist Church in Silo, Okla., from 1996-99, and Hendrix Baptist Church in Hendrix, Okla., from 1993-94. He was licensed to preach by the First Baptist Church of Durant in 1993.

More information about the inauguration is available online at www.okbu.edu/inauguration. The site will be updated often as plans unfold for the celebration.