BIO
- B.A. ’70, Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts
- Senior distinguished professor emeritus of biblical theology, Criswell College
- Author
- Elected member of the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas
(The Society for New Testament Studies)
It seems like yesterday that I first stepped inside The University of Baltimore, but it has been over six decades. The main campus consisted of a single five-story building on the corner of Charles and Oliver streets that housed classrooms, library, administrative and professor offices, a cramped bookstore, and a large first-floor lounge with towering white columns where students socialized and crammed for exams. We had no cafeteria, dorms or parking lots. All students commuted and competed for a limited number of metered spaces.
Much of my college life centered on baseball. After winning a spot in the starting lineup, coach Otts Bosley offered me an athletic scholarship. Outside the classroom, I spent every afternoon on the practice field at the Mount Washington sports complex on Rogers Avenue. My dream was to sign a pro contract after graduation.
In my junior year, I discovered my academic niche. Out of curiosity, I enrolled in Abnormal Psychology taught by Professor Ralph Funkhouser, a man born to teach with a great sense of humor and a heart for those broken by the overwhelming circumstances of life. I was hooked, and immediately changed my major from history to psychology.
I participated in numerous extracurricular activities, served on the convocation committee and, as vice president and secretary of the Varsity Club, learning management skills and the art of compromise.
My life seemed perfect until the unthinkable happened. In my last year, I injured my throwing arm so severely that all hopes of playing pro baseball melted away. I had never considered any other career path and was left downtrodden and confused. I needed guidance.
Without an appointment, I went to see Richard Simms, dean of students, and shared my anguish and dilemma. After awhile, he looked up and said, “Have you ever considered attending seminary?”
Seminary? Isn’t that where they train ministers?
“It’s also a place where you can find yourself,” he replied, “and possibly discover a new direction for your life.” And then added, “At UB, we have several faculty with seminary degrees including myself and our Provost Mebane Turner.” Without saying another word, he picked up the phone and called the registrar at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
I took Dean Simms’s advice. After seminary, I served a stint as a minister before moving into higher education. For the past 40 years, I have served as a professor at a private college in Texas. When I graduated from UBalt in 1969, I never imagined I would eventually earn two Ph.D.s and write seven books, both academic and popular.