Retired Terry School faculty commended with portraits hanging in Price Hall

Five retired faculty members from the Jack D. Terry School of Educational Ministries received commendations for decades of service to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with portraits hung in J.M. Price Hall January 17. Current Terry School faculty welcomed the former professors with a lunch and reception in their honor.

“We are glad you’re here and welcome. It is very meaningful that we can reconnect the Southwestern family. It is something that is important for all of us,” said President David S. Dockery. “I want you to know that the current Terry School faculty is carrying forward your work in very capable ways.”

Chris Shirley, dean of the Jack D. Terry School of Educational Ministries, spoke about the impact of William “Rick” Yount, retired professor of foundations of education; Marcia McQuitty, retired professor of childhood education; David McQuitty, retired professor of administration; Wesley “Wes” Black, retired professor of youth/student ministry; and William “Budd” Smith, retired professor of foundations of education, on generations of students who have been trained at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary during a reception honoring the retired faculty Jan. 17.

Speaking of the portraits that are hung on the second floor of Price Hall, Chris Shirley, dean of the Terry School, said that “the picture on the wall may be passing, but your influence here has made an eternal difference.” Shirley commended the faculty members for their service and thanked them for their contributions to the academy and the Kingdom of God.

The five faculty members honored were William “Rick” Yount, David McQuitty, Marcia McQuitty, Wesley “Wes” Black, and William “Budd” Smith.

Wesley “Wes” Black (left) and William “Rick” Yount stand next to their newly hung portraits in J.M. Price Hall on the campus of Southwestern Seminary. Black served as professor of youth/student ministry from 1983-2012 and interim dean of the Terry School from 2008-2009. Yount began serving as professor of foundations of education in 1981 until his retirement in 2012. In addition to teaching courses in teaching and discipleship, he guided hundreds of Doctor of Philosophy students through the empirical research of their dissertations.

Yount served Southwestern from 1981-2012 as professor of foundations of education. He wrote multiple books focused on teaching, learning, discipleship, and statistics, among others. He has also contributed chapters to books and articles. In 2008, Yount also served as the editor of the second edition of The Teaching Ministry of the Church, which included chapters from every Terry School faculty member at that time.

“He was trying to shape and form us,” said Shirley about Yount. “I thought I was all that, but I was not. But someone who was [all that] was trying to guide me and so I came around to understanding the truth of what he was trying to instill in me. I am where I am today, in many ways, because of you.”

David and Marcia McQuitty are history makers at Southwestern Seminary. They are the only couple in the seminary’s history to earn advanced degrees in both the School of Theology and the Terry School who returned to serve on faculty. Marcia was also the seminary’s first female Master of Divinity graduate in 1969. In addition to his various administrative roles across campus, David was professor of education. Marcia was professor of childhood education and director of the Naylor Children’s Center. They both retired in 2012.

David and Marcia McQuitty both served as faculty members. David began in 1984 and Marcia in 1992. Both served until 2012. In addition to his faculty role as professor of administration, David served as dean of students and director of student aid. Marcia served as professor of childhood education. Additionally, she served as the director of the Naylor Children’s Center and began the seminary’s certificate in childhood education program. Before serving in her faculty role she served as the seminary’s director of international students.

“Four words that would describe [Marcia]: pioneer, dignity, grace, and encouragement,” said Karen Kennemur, professor of children’s ministry and one of Marcia’s former students. “Marcia was the first woman to graduate from Southwestern Seminary with her M.Div. So, thank you for opening the way for women to walk into a man’s world in theology.”

Terri Stovall, professor of educational ministries and dean of women, spoke of David’s dignity and grace.

“I always want to be the one thought of as ‘with a smile on their face’ like Dr. McQuitty,” Stovall said. “He never needed any recognition for what he did, all he wanted was to continue the Kingdom work here at Southwestern. He had a tremendous impact on how I relate, in turn, to my students, my colleagues, and to what I see my role here at Southwestern.”

Black served as professor of youth/student ministry from 1983-2012. He wrote three books and has contributed chapters and paragraphs to books and articles. Additionally, he served as the interim dean of the Terry School from 2008 to 2009.

“Believe it or not, there actually was a period of years where we had a coherent discipleship strategy for teenagers and Wes was right in the middle, not only putting it together, but then getting out in the churches to propagate them,” said Richard Ross, senior professor of student ministry. “We are talking about one of the closest friends I’ve ever had, but speaking as a Kingdom guy today, I celebrate broad ripples out from the life of Wes Black across these decades. I’m glad his picture is on the wall.”

William “Budd” Smith retired as professor of foundations of education in 2004 after serving at Southwestern Seminary since 1979. He was the first occupant of the J.M. Price Chair of Religious Education. He and his wife, Cloe, attended the reception held in honor of five retired faculty of the Terry School on Jan. 17.

Smith served as professor of foundations of education from 1979 to 2004 and was the first occupant of the J.M. Price Chair of Religious Education. Smith wrote Disciple Youth Leadership System for what is now known as Lifeway Christian Resources.

Karen Gilstrap, registrar at Southwestern Seminary and 1991 Master of Arts in Religious Education graduate, said that Smith taught her “the things about administration, not only about teaching and foundations but about administration academically that the Lord has allowed me to carry on in my role as the registrar.”

The reception concluded with comments from Jack Terry, interim vice president for institutional advancement and senior professor of foundations of education. Terry, for whom the Terry School is named, served as dean of the school from 1973-1996.

“I love each one of you more than you’ll ever know,” Terry told his former colleagues with tear-filled eyes. “I’ve prayed for you all more than you have ever been. I pray for your families.”