Williams Baptist College

Williams Baptist University
Former names
 Southern Baptist College, Williams Baptist College
Established 1941
Affiliation Arkansas Baptist State Convention, Southern Baptist Convention
President Dr. Stan Norman
Vice-president Dr. Brad Baine, Dr. Brett Cooper, Dr. Jeremy Dutschke, and Dr. Dale Leatherman
Location Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, USA
36°07′32″N 90°56′25″W / 36.12544°N 90.94023°W / 36.12544; -90.94023Coordinates: 36°07′32″N 90°56′25″W / 36.12544°N 90.94023°W / 36.12544; -90.94023
Colors Blue and white
Athletics NAIA, American Midwest Conference
Sports Men's basketball, baseball, soccer, wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling, cross country and track & field, swimming, and golf; women's basketball, volleyball, softball, soccer, cross country and track & field, swimming, and golf
Mascot Eagles
Website

Williams Baptist University is a private, coeducational university located in the Lawrence County, Arkansas community of Walnut Ridge. Founded in 1941, this institution began its life as a two-year school. It began granting bachelor's degrees in 1984 and masters degrees in 2017. The name of the school was changed in 1991 from Southern Baptist College to Williams Baptist College in honor of its founder and first president, Dr. H. E. Williams. In 2018, its name was changed to Williams Baptist University. The current president of the institution is Dr. Stan Norman, who took office in April of 2018.

Williams has been accredited since 1963 through the Higher Learning Commission.[1]

The college is owned and operated by the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Previous presidents include Dr. H.E. Williams (1941–1973), Dr. D. Jack Nicholas (1973–1991), Dr. Jimmy Millikin (1991–1993), Dr. Gary Huckabay (1993–1995), Dr. Jerol B. Swaim (1995–2012), and Dr. Thomas O. Jones (2012-2017).


Athletics

WBU athletic teams, nicknamed the Eagles, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the American Midwest Conference. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, soccer, wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling, swimming, cross country and track, and golf; while women's sports include basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball, swimming, cross country and track, and golf.

Notable alumni

  • Mel Redman, former senior executive with Walmart in Bentonville, Ark., now CEO of Redman & Associates.
  • Mickey Wood, longtime COO at Ranger Boats in Flippin, Ark.
  • Kyle Harvey ('13), player for the Ipswitch Force in Australian Basketball League.
  • Jeremy Bell, played basketball for the Plymouth Raiders of the British Basketball League (2011–13)
  • Jeff Morris (‘15), Projects Director for U.S. Senator Tom Cotton.
  • Jack Ladyman, mechanical engineer from Jonesboro and Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for a portion of Craighead County[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.wbcoll.edu/Articles/wbc_marks_8th_straight_year_in_us_news_top_tier.aspx
  2. ↑ "Jack Ladyman". arkansashouse.org. Retrieved April 8, 2015.


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