George W. Truett
Waco, McLennan County, Texas
Marker Inscription
North Carolina native George W. Truett followed his parents to Texas in 1889, and settled first in Whitewright in Grayson county. He worked on the family farm, attended Grayson Junior College, and became an active member of the Baptist Congregation. A gifted teacher and speaker, Truett was ordained a Baptist minister by the congregation in 1890. Truett had also gained a reputation as a skillful fund-raiser, and in 1890 he was appointed financial secretary of Baylor University, which was burdened with a $92,000 debt. Within 23 months, Truett had eliminated the debt. In 1893 he enrolled at Baylor and paid his tuition by becoming pastor of East Waco Baptist Church. He married Josephine Jenkins in 1894. Truett graduated in 1897 and became pastor of the First Baptist Church, Dallas, a position he held for 47 years. The membership grew from 715 to 7,804. In 1904 the Texas Baptist Sanitarium, later the Baylor Hospital, was founded as a result of his fund raising efforts. He also raised millions of dollars for the Southern Baptist convention, served as an officer in numerous organizations, and traveled worldwide on preaching tours. Following a distinguished career in service to others, Truett died at age 77. (1997)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
George W. Truett followed his family from North Carolina to Texas in 1889 and, though ordained a Baptist minister in 1890, first made his mark as a gifted fundraiser — clearing Baylor University's crushing $92,000 debt in under two years as its financial secretary. He enrolled at Baylor, paid his way as a Waco pastor, and in 1897 took the pulpit of First Baptist Church, Dallas, which he led for 47 years as it grew more than tenfold. His fundraising also helped found the hospital that became Baylor Hospital.
Why it matters
Truett became one of the most influential Baptist leaders of his era, shaping a major Texas university, hospital, and denomination through his pulpit and his fundraising genius.
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Related people
- · George W. Truett
- · Josephine Jenkins Truett
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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