Dr. George Washington Truett ¹⁶¹¹

  General Notes:

One of the most famous Truetts was Dr. George Washington Truett, born 6 May 1867 and died 7 July 1944. Dr. Truett was a Southern Baptist Preacher and was Chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1927 to 1929. He was the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas for 40 years.

Under his leadership the First Baptist Church grew into the largest church in the world at the time. Dr. Truett served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1927-1929 and as president of the Baptist World Alliance from 1934-1939. He was one of America's greatest preachers. He always preached for a decision.

He authored many books and maintained correspondence to the unsaved two mornings each week. Under his ministry there were18,124 additions to the church; 5,337 baptisms; 4,000 in Sunday School. He went to be with theLord on July 7, 1944, at Dallas, Texas.

Truett-McConnell College in Georgia is named after him.

Although Truett-McConnell College is a comparatively young institution, its roots extend far back into the educational history of Georgia. George W. Truett and Fernando C. McConnell, cousins for whom the college is named, were men of faith and vision whose work and influence as joint pioneers in Christian education became well known.

In 1887 George W. Truett established a private Christian academy at Hiawassee, Georgia, where Fernando C. McConnell joined him in his educational endeavors which led to the creation of the public school system in Towns County, Georgia. Changing conditions eventually led to the closing of the original academy, but Georgia Baptists established a college in Cleveland, Georgia, to carry on the same high educational standards instituted by these two Baptist leaders.

On July 23, 1946, ceremonies at Cleveland, Georgia, heralded the establishment of the new college. Truett-McConnell College, operating in temporary quarters, first opened its doors to students in September, 1947, when it enrolled a class of fifty-five. Before long, construction began on the present campus, and the first building became available for use in September, 1956.

Since that time, the campus has seen much construction and landscaping. Additions to the campus now include seven residence halls, Baptist student center, gymnasium, dining hall, faculty apartment building, chapel, library, biology laboratory, recreational complex, maintenance shop, president's home, academic enrichment center, education annex, art annex, student development building and institutional development building.

During 1973 the regional campus program was initiated. The College now has campuses at Elberton, Epworth, Toccoa, and Watkinsville in addition to the Cleveland campus. ¹⁶¹¹

  Life Events:

1. Occupation: Minister (First Baptist Church), 1897-1944, Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA. ¹⁶¹¹

2. College-Bachelors: Baylor University, 1897, Waco, McLennan, Texas, USA. ¹⁶¹¹

George married Josephine Jenkins on 28 Jun 1894 in Waco, McLennan, Texas, USA.¹⁶¹¹ (Josephine Jenkins was born about 1870 in Waco, McLennan, Texas, USA ¹⁶¹¹.)