Dr. Rufus Columbus Burleson
Waco, McLennan County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Pioneer preacher, president of Baylor University. Born in Alabama August 7, 1823. Died May 14, 1901. His wife Georgia J. Burleson born September 23 1833, died June 11, 1924.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Rufus Columbus Burleson, born in Alabama in 1823, became a pioneer Baptist preacher and one of the shaping figures of Baylor University, which he led as president. He and his wife Georgia, who long outlived him, are remembered on this marker in the Waco he helped build. His career spanned the crucial decades when Baylor grew into a lasting institution.
Why it matters
Burleson helped plant higher education in nineteenth-century Texas, giving one of the state's oldest universities its enduring form.
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Related people
- · Rufus Columbus Burleson
- · Georgia J. Burleson
Themes & tags
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