Former Oklahoma Baptist University President Bob Agee dies at 87
Bob Agee, a former pastor and president of Oklahoma Baptist University who oversaw record enrollment, died at age 87.
OBU issued an announcement on Sunday saying that Agee, who served as president from 1982 to 1998, died Saturday. During his time in office, the university saw considerable growth, including record student enrollment and an expansion of campus facilities, as well as a larger endowment. Today, the school has an undergraduate enrollment of more than 2,000 students.
OBU President Heath A. Thomas said Agee's legacy “is woven deeply into the story of Oklahoma Baptist University.”
“He loved OBU, he loved students, and above all, he loved Christ and devoted his life to serving Him. His leadership strengthened this University in ways we continue to experience today,” stated Thomas.
“He understood that academic excellence and faithful Christian discipleship belong together, and he helped OBU live out that conviction with clarity and purpose. His vision for excellence at OBU is a legacy we proudly carry. We are profoundly grateful for his life, his leadership and his faithful service.”
David Dockery, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, stated in a column for Baptist Press that Agee “was always a preacher and churchman at heart.”
“He loved to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ,” wrote Dockery. “He had a remarkable ability to relate constructively and with integrity to both conservatives and moderates across Baptist life.”
“I thank God for the years of friendship with Bob Agee. I am grateful for his significant imprint on Baptist higher education. To honor Bob’s legacy, I will be delighted to continue to echo his call for Baptist higher education institutions to be characterized as academically excellent, thoroughly Christ centered, and unashamedly Baptist.”
Agee earned an undergraduate degree with honors in history and religion from Union University of Tennessee in 1960. Later, he earned a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary of Louisville, Kentucky, and a Ph.D. in higher education administration at George Peabody College of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University.
In 2010, Union inducted Agee into its Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing him for leading its cross country teams to four conference championships during his time as a student.
While a student at Union, Agee married Nelle Hulme. The couple had two children and four grandchildren, and their marriage lasted 62 years, until her death in 2020.
During a speech given to graduates of Union University in December 2005, Agee declared that society needs “a new breed of thinkers and doers” who will stand for moral integrity.
“The world is working overtime to convince you that God’s way is irrelevant and out of date,” Agee said. “It takes a tremendous step of faith to commit yourself to the notion that God’s way is better than the world’s way, and work at living that with conviction and consistency.”
