Presidential Inauguration Celebration April 30-May 1

Oklahoma Baptist University will celebrate the inauguration of the University's 15th president, Dr. David Wesley Whitlock, April 30-May 1. The celebration includes a worship service, inauguration and concert which will honor Bison Hill's Christian heritage. The public is invited to attend.

The University community and its friends will gather for the Inaugural Convocation 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.

A variety of program personalities will join Agee in the inaugural ceremonies including Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins; Dr. Paul Corts, president of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities; and Dr. Anthony Jordan, executive-director/treasurer of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Dr. David Dockery, president of Union University, and Dr. C. Pat Taylor, president of Southwest Baptist University, will also join Agee and other friends of OBU in offering greetings during the celebration.

An inaugural worship service is planned for Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m. in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium. Music will be provided by OBU's Bisonette Glee Club, David's Creed ensemble, University Chorale, Bison Glee Club and Symphonic Band. The message will be presented by Gerald Tidwell, pastor emeritus of the First Baptist Church of Durant, and Jordan.

OBU's Symphonic Band will present its annual spring concert at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 1, in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium, in honor of the presidential inauguration. The concert will spotlight a performance of the famous Aaron Copland work "Lincoln Portrait," which will feature William James Brown, OBU professor emeritus of music, as narrator.

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 Southeastern 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 1999-2008. 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.