Abner Vernon McCall
Encyclopedia
Abner Vernon McCall was the President of Baylor University
from 1961 to 1981.
. After his father's death and his mother's failing health, he was sent to the Masonic School and Home
in Fort Worth
. He gained a scholarship to attend Baylor University and graduated in Law in 1938. From 1938 to 1942, he was an Assistant Professor at Baylor. In 1943, he received an LL.M from the University of Michigan
.
From 1943 to 1945, he served in the Federal Bureau of Investigation
.
In 1946, he returned to Baylor to teach Law, and became Dean of the Law School in 1948. In 1959, he became Executive Vice-President of Baylor. From 1961 to 1981, he served as President of Baylor. During his presidency, he upheld the traditional Baptist views on dancing, card playing, alcohol, and women wearing slacks, despite the social upheaval of the 1960s. He also threatened to expel any student that posed for Playboy Magazine in 1980 when the magazine published the "Girls of the Southwest Conference" edition. From 1981 to 1985, he was its Chancellor.
He was appointed a Texas Supreme Court
Justice in June 1956 by Governor Allan Shivers
. He was also a past President of the Baptist General Convention of Texas
.
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
from 1961 to 1981.
Biography
McCall was born June 8, 1915 in Perrin, TexasPerrin, Texas
Perrin is an unincorporated community in southeastern Jack County, Texas, United States). It has a population of approximately 500, and it is located at the intersection of US HWY 281 and FM 2210.It was established in 1870 and named for Levi W...
. After his father's death and his mother's failing health, he was sent to the Masonic School and Home
Masonic Home Independent School District
The Masonic Home and School of Texas was a home for widows and orphans in what is now Fort Worth, Texas from 1889 to 2005. The first superintendent was Dr. Frank Rainey of Austin, Texas. Starting in 1913, it had its own school system, the Masonic Home Independent School District.The campus included...
in Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. He gained a scholarship to attend Baylor University and graduated in Law in 1938. From 1938 to 1942, he was an Assistant Professor at Baylor. In 1943, he received an LL.M from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
From 1943 to 1945, he served in the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
.
In 1946, he returned to Baylor to teach Law, and became Dean of the Law School in 1948. In 1959, he became Executive Vice-President of Baylor. From 1961 to 1981, he served as President of Baylor. During his presidency, he upheld the traditional Baptist views on dancing, card playing, alcohol, and women wearing slacks, despite the social upheaval of the 1960s. He also threatened to expel any student that posed for Playboy Magazine in 1980 when the magazine published the "Girls of the Southwest Conference" edition. From 1981 to 1985, he was its Chancellor.
He was appointed a Texas Supreme Court
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
Justice in June 1956 by Governor Allan Shivers
Allan Shivers
Robert Allan Shivers was a Texas politician who led the conservative faction of the Texas Democratic Party during the turbulent 1940s and 1950s...
. He was also a past President of the Baptist General Convention of Texas
Baptist General Convention of Texas
The Baptist General Convention of Texas is the oldest surviving Baptist convention in the state of Texas. The churches cooperating with the Baptist General Convention of Texas partner nationally and internationally with both the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship,...
.