The History and Heritage of Missouri Baptist University

Missouri Baptist University opened a campus extension in 1957, at Tower Grove Baptist Church in mid-town St. Louis with 68 students. Under the auspices of Hannibal-LaGrange College and the direction of its president, Dr. L.A. Foster, Bible courses were offered for pastors and laymen. During the second term, several liberal arts courses were requested and provided. The records show that student influence and organizational work of St. Louis Baptist leaders, pastors, and laymen influenced the Missouri Baptist Convention to adopt a motion in 1960 to "approve the establishment of a Baptist college in greater St. Louis." The first meeting of the Board of Trustees for Missouri Baptist College was held in January 1964. Dr. Frank Kellogg served as the first chairman of the Board of Trustees and later as the second president.

In July, an 81-acre site near Interstate 270 and Highway 40 was purchased. Ground breaking ceremonies were held on February 19, 1967. In September of 1968, 186 students entered classes. The College made Tower Grove its home for eleven years, from fall 1957 to fall 1968. In May 1973, Missouri Baptist College graduated its first class of 29 students, each earning the Bachelor of Arts degree.

Dr. Robert Sutherland became the third president. Under Dr. Sutherland's leadership, the College achieved financial backing for continued operation, achieved its initial North Central accreditation in 1978, and led a campaign for the first residence hall -- named Pillsbury-Huff. Dr. Patrick O. Copley saw the College as a "place of pure potential." In 1990, Dr. J. Edwin Hewlett succeeded Dr. Copley, and served the College for about one year. Dr. Thomas S. Field was called as interim president and led from 1991 to 1995. In addition to the updating and renovation of buildings, Dr. Field focused on the stabilization of all the resources of the College.

The appointment of Dr. R. Alton Lacey as president in the spring of 1995 has furthered the legacy of building a quality, Christ-centered institution, built upon the solid foundation laid through the visions of our founders. Under Dr. Lacey’s headship, the $10 million goal of the Spirit of Excellence Campaign was attained, providing funds for the Pillsbury Chapel and Dale Williams Fine Arts Center, and Missouri Baptist College became University. As Dr. Lacey put it in the groundbreaking ceremony of this facility on August 26, 1999, “This building will stand as a reminder of those who came before, who laid the foundation of this whole enterprise and it will point to the future with great hope and faith.”