Saturday, May 26, 2007
“Waco’s loss is heaven’s gain. Dr. Reynolds’ legacy of love for his family, his beloved Baylor and the cause of religious liberty will live on for decades to come. I will forever be grateful for Dr. Reynolds’ personal friendship and for his having mentored me on the cause of protecting religion (from government intrusion). He was a nationally respected champion for religious liberty.”
— U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, Waco
“He was tough as a boot but also tender as a drifting fog. When you needed him to stand, he would, yet there was a tenderness about him that was admirable.”
— Paul Powell, dean, Truett Seminary
“He was a scholar, a patriot and an effective orator. He retired as president of Baylor but not from the service of the institution he loved. He was on occasion vilified by those who would undermine the principles which guided his life but he never compromised on basic Christian and Baptist ideal.”
— Raymond Bailey, pastor of Seventh and James Baptist Church, Waco
“Working with Dr. Reynolds on a daily basis taught me many things. In watching him, I learned the value of integrity — of never compromising one’s values for the sake of popularity. I learned the importance of “owning” what you do — he always reminded me that no matter how small the task, the way in which it was accomplished was a reflection on Baylor, on his office, and on me personally.”
— Kay Toombs, Emeritus Associate Professor of Philosophy (Reynold’s administrative assistant from 1970 through 1975)
“He was so warm and genuine. His integrity and authenticity was so evident in everything he did. He was an unapologetic man of prayer who could have been a preacher.”
— Paul Stripling, emeritus director of missions for the Waco Baptist Association (1982-2003)
“I have known Herb for 50 years, first as Capt. Reynolds, one of my Air Force ROTC professors. During his 14-year presidency and the service he provided under President McCall, Herb made an extraordinary impact on Baylor University, creating a new governance structure and supporting a variety of new academic initiatives, student life opportunities and facilities. Herb was instrumental in establishing George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor, whose campus is named for him and his great friend, John Baugh.”
— John M. Lilley, president, Baylor University
“As president and chancellor, he stood tall in our midst and gave witness to the best of the Baylor tradition. Many changes have taken place since the founding of Baylor University in 1845, but the fundamental principles under which the university was founded have not changed — except for enlarging the vision to adapt to those changes. The Reynolds era of the university’s history is noteworthy for his unprecedented enlargement of vision and for the amazing achievements resulting from that vision.”
— Glenn Hilburn, emeritus chairman of the Baylor religion department
“He was an exceptional leader and a real consensus builder. He didn’t hesitate to state what was on his mind, but he was also very open to the nuanced discussion by the other (university) presidents. He had a keen interest in a remarkable range of issues confronting us, from academics, athletics to accreditation.”
— Carol McDonald, director of Independent Colleges & Universities of Texas
“Not only have we lost a friend and mentor but Herb was one of the great leaders of Baylor University. He served Baylor ... truly making a difference in its success by leading Baylor in its mission to be a world-class university for Christian education. He will be severely missed.”
— Drayton McLane, former chairman of the Baylor Board of Regents
“It is just a tremendous loss for the Waco community, for the Baylor family, for First Baptist Church and for Baptists internationally. He was just a stellar person. He was just most unique and a remarkably gifted man. He had the ability to see the big picture on so many things and always had the time to stop and focus on the individual. He was a caring man with great, great compassion for people. He was a psychologist. He understood people and he was a great churchman. He was always intimately involved with his church and his loss will be keenly felt at so many levels.”
— The Rev. R. Scott Walker, pastor of First Baptist Church in Waco
“It’s not possible to state the full impact of his leadership on Baylor University or his contribution to the Baylor Alumni Association. Dr. Reynolds was the rare combination of a visionary and an achiever. A steadfast champion of religious and academic freedom and a bold leader, he had a deep faith and unshakable integrity. Yet, despite his greatness, he was humble and approachable, witty and kind. He exemplified servant leadership and will continue to serve as an example to us all. He was our friend, and the Baylor family has suffered an irreplaceable loss.”
— Jeff Kilgore, executive vice president of the Baylor Alumni Association
“Dr. Reynolds was one of the finest gentlemen I have ever known and I knew him for more than 50 years. I worked for him for more the 20 years, and during that time I saw him take Baylor from a less than desirable financial condition to a top-rated university, academically, financially and in every other way during his administration. I think history will prove that Dr. Reynolds was probably the greatest president the university has ever had.”
— Eugene Baker, Baylor historian
“Dr. Reynolds was a courageous leader not only of the Baylor family but of Texas Baptists. His deep appreciation for the essence of our Baptist heritage based on his confidence in the gospel of Jesus Christ and his faithfulness to the Baptist vision of soul competency and religious liberty made him a true Baptist statesman.”
— Charles Wade, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas
“Herb Reynolds was one of the finest Baptist Christian leaders I have known. He was totally committed to his Lord, his family, and to Baylor University. During all the years I served as a regent, while he was president, he was always available to do all he could to help any student, faculty member, regent or alumni in every way that he could. He worked tirelessly for Baylor and those values on which it has been built over all the years since 1845.”
— John Wilkerson, former Baylor board chairman and current member
“He is just the finest, most brilliant Texas Baptist statesman. He was kind. He was like a big brother. We were that close. He spoke at my Dad’s (funeral) service in March and I don’t think I could love another human any more than I loved him. I think he was one of the greatest men who ever walked through the doors at Baylor. This is a huge loss to the Baylor family, a huge loss to Baylor, a huge loss to Texas and to Texas Baptists, and actually Baptists around the world.”
— Babs Baugh, 2006 Alumni Association president
“I think one of the things that has endeared Dr. Reynolds to our football fans through all these years was his and the board of regents’ reaction to the victory over Texas in 1974 (the Bears trailed 24-7 at the half and came back to beat the Longhorns, 34-24, on Nov. 9, 1974, en route to their first Southwest Conference championship in 50 years). That was just an extraordinary time. I’ve never heard or read of another president that’s slept in the stadium overnight with the scoreboard lights on. That was quite a show of elation. Obviously it had been a long time coming and signaled a new era in Baylor football. That’s one of his legacies that people will always remember fondly. I think one of his legacies will be his effort to make sure, as we all wanted to do, to provide a future opportunity for Baylor in the demise of the old Southwest Conference. Dr. Reynolds was extremely vital in that process.”
— Grant Teaff, Baylor head football coach (1972-92) and current executive director of the American Football Coaches Association
Comments
By Rick Stamps
Jun 12, 2007 7:31 PM | Link to this
Dr. Reynolds was President when I attended Baylor. I will always be grateful for his protecting Baylor against Baptist extremists. Today, Baylor enjoys its high academic reputation because of Dr. Reynolds.
By Kris Bolcom
Jun 10, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this
Yes, Reynolds could be a good man and had some good qualities. But he could also be ruthless and unethical. He ruined his legacy by conspiring against those who support Baylor 2012. He used his training to wage an almost anonymous psychological war through the internet (baylorfans), and bullied people through unkind correspondence and phone calls. He admittedly kept an "asbestos file" to use against his enemies. We, the new generation of Baptist leaders, need to do better than this. Unethical means can never be justified.
By Dr. Maggie B. Thomas, Class of 66
Jun 8, 2007 3:07 AM | Link to this
Dr. Herb Reynolds and I talked less than seven weeks before his sudden death on the day he delivered the eulogy at the funeral of former Baylor trustee Judge Joe E. Briscoe.
Dr. Reynolds was gracious as I approached him to express my appreciation for his eloquent words praising the many contributions Judge Briscoe and his wife, Gene Aubrey Briscoe, made to Baylor in time, energy, and scholarships.
On a personal note, I told him that my uncle, Dr. Walter J. Williams, was a former chair of the math department at Baylor and my cousin, Lucille W. Brigham, also taught in the math department for many years. Dr. Reynolds had delivered the eulogy at the funeral for my cousin when she died suddenly and unexpectedly.
I also told him my Baylor roommate was Judge Briscoeıs daughter, Dr. Harriet B. Harral, and I am a second-generation Baylor graduate.
Upon hearing the personal connections, Dr. Reynolds began telling personal stories about his experiences with my relatives and the Briscoe family.
His ability to make personal connections, amid all the responsibilities he had through the years, was a distinctive part of his personality and character that I appreciated.
As Baylorıs leader, Dr. Reynolds had to be ıtoughı quite often to function effectively. I admired his skillful and innovative ways of protecting Baylor from the conservative element in the Baptist denomination. I also was favorably impressed by his caring ways of maintaining personal relationships with people.
?ıAnd now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.ı
1 Corinthians 13:13
By John Hewett
Jun 1, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this
In a world filled with religious politicians, he was a statesman. His courage, integrity and personal strength were an inspiration to many, and to me personally. We are all diminished by his passing.
By Dale Connally
May 31, 2007 8:56 PM | Link to this
My admiration for Dr. Reynolds started when I was a Junior at Baylor and we interacted at BSU functions. After graduation, he was the President who hired me onto the faculty of the university we both dearly loved. As a faculty member I attended myriad luncheons where he was present. I donıt think I ever heard a topic from Physical Education to Physics come up that he didnıt chime in, I was reading about that the other day, and ı.
After his retirement we have regularly shared the balcony of First Baptist Church. I was always challenged by his copious notetaking during every sermon and his singingıa lifetime participant in worship, not a spectator. Thanks to the Reynolds family for sharing him with us.
By Michael Fallon
May 30, 2007 7:17 PM | Link to this
Although I did not know Dr. Reynolds very well, My father Frank Fallon, was a life long friend, and he performed my father's eulogy,in May of 2004. My father always spoke highly of Dr. Reynolds, as he had my Dad come to work at Baylor full time in 1981. He did as much to move the Baylor name to new horizons in Education, as my father did to promote Baylor Athletics onto the national scene in broadcasting. He will be sorely missed. God Bless his memory, and his family.
By Bronnie McNabb, Jr. - BBA '73
May 30, 2007 6:05 PM | Link to this
Claremont, California
May 30, 2007
I am experiencing a profound sadness at the passing of Herbert Reynolds. Dr. Reynolds came to Baylor during my first year there as a student. He and Abner McCall made quite a team, really complementing one another in the most effective manner. I never really got to know him personally as so many who have posted comments here, but I respected him as an intelligent, open-minded, progressive and faithful leader of Baylor University.
His son Kevin lived a few doors down from me in Penland Hall and observing Kevin's film career from here in California I have always been reminded of those days at Baylor. Dr. Reynolds became President several years after I graduated and although he remained far more conservative that I personally would have liked, without him and his visionary leadership I believe that the value of my Baylor education in the eyes of the broader national community would be measurably de-valued.
Herbert Reynolds was a voice of reason and intelligence throughout the Presidential debacle that followed his term of office. All through that difficult time, his obvious love for Baylor led him to continue to strive for the best that Baylor could be; faithful to its Baptist roots, but looking to a future that was more mindful of globalization, diversity of people and less inwardly focused. Frankly, I wonder who will be able to fill his "shoes" in the days to come. This accounts for some of the sadness I feel at his passing.
The Board of Regents continues to reflect an inconsistent and quite troubling pattern of leadership, at least for those of us who would hope that Baylor would indeed someday become a world-class educational institution. The counsel of Herbert Reynolds will be sorely missed for those who would lead Baylor in the next five to ten years. But for now, we can all be thankful for what he did accomplish for Baylor and gives thanks for his life and offer our deepest sympathy to the Reynolds family.
By Dr. Jim Moshinskie
May 30, 2007 2:03 AM | Link to this
Almost 20 years ago on Father's Day when I was the Executive Director of Daniel EMS in Waco, I answered the ambulance call to Dr. Reynold's home when he suffered his first heart attack. I am so thankful that God gave me the skills then to quickly diagnose Dr. Reynold's problem and treat me correctly. He graciously thanked me many times "for saving his life" that day, and I was most honored. But it was in his years since his heart attack that impressed me. He volunteered so much of his time to promote the American Heart Association, live a healthy lifestyle, and execise often. I can remember seeing Dr. Reynolds and Joy walking together on the Bear Trail. Everytime he visited my funeral home for a visitation, he would thank me for taking care of him that day, but today, I want to thank him for taking care of us. He will be missed. Dr. Mo
By Laurie Miller Smith
May 29, 2007 7:48 PM | Link to this
My heart skipped a beat when I opened the e-mail from Baylor enews re: Dr. Herb Reynolds' sudden death today. I am personally devastated by this news. Growing up in a Baylor Family, as the daughter of Bob Miller & Ann Miller, I have interacted with Dr. Reynolds & his family from the earliest parts of my life. Herb Reynolds has been a rock for my parents as long time faculty, for myself, my husband, Pat Smith, as a student, my brother, Robert Miller and for Baylor over the years and years of his "touch". He nurtured the "family" of Baylor University and helped to create & maintain "the best" of Baylor University in my view. He could be counted on during the great times or during the stormiest weather imaginable.
My mother and father, as professors at Baylor owed so much to Herb Reynolds. He was always an anchor in a storm. We send our love to Joy, Kevin, Kent and Rhonda. We will miss knowing Herb Reynolds is "there" at Baylor, making a difference. Baylor is a far better place for Herb Reynolds' tenure, tutelage and love. Herb's death will leave a void in the heart of Baylor for a long long time.
Laurie Miller Smith
By Steve Swinney
May 29, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this
I first met Dr Reynolds in 1965 when he served in the Air force with my Dad at Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, New Mexico. His son Kevin and I went to 8th grade together. Five years later I was offered a football scholarship to Baylor University. I was also considering some other schools at the time. On my recruiting visit I asked if I could speak to Dr Reynolds. He took time out of his busy schedule to spend an hour with me telling me why he thought Baylor was my best choice. We talked about the education I would recieve but also about the importance of a Christian institution and the influence it would have on my life. We talked about what it would some day mean to be part of the Baylor family. Lastly we talked about his vision to see Baylor compete for a championship in the Southwest Conference After our talk I committed to Baylor and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I am prayerfully thankful for Dr Reynolds and the influence he had on my life and the friendship we developed over the years. His love and compassion for people and his ability to respect the dignity of all men regardless of their positon was a lesson I have always remembered and tried to immulate. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Reynolds family as we all share your loss.
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