PLAINVIEW — Wayland Baptist University is saddened to announce the passing of Dr. David Linville Jester, ninth president of the university.
Dr. Jester, a man of profound faith, died Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, at his home in Paris, KY, at age 94. He guided Wayland from 1981 to 1987.
“Dr. Jester was truly a man of God, dedicated to doing His will in everything he undertook,” said Dr. Donna Hedgepath, current president of Wayland Baptist University. “His legacy of faith and dedication to higher education has left an indelible mark on the lives he touched. Under his leadership, Wayland transitioned into a full-fledged university, expanded its academic programs, and broadened its reach.”
Born in Shinyanga, Tanganyika (now Tanzania), in March 1930 to Baptist missionary parents, Dr. Jester’s early life was steeped in Christian service. His commitment to education and ministry continued throughout his life, spanning multiple continents, from his service in Nigeria to his leadership roles in American higher education.
Dr. Jester’s presidency at Wayland was marked by several milestones, most notably the university’s transition from Wayland Baptist College to university status in June 1981. He presided over the construction of the McClung University Center, the introduction of computer-based registration, the establishment of external campuses in Lubbock, Amarillo, San Antonio, and Alaska, and the creation of the International Occupations Center, which helped deliver vocational education programs.
“Dr. Jester’s time at Wayland was a season of growth, despite facing challenges, including financial difficulties in the late 1980s,” Dr. Hedgepath said. “Through his vision, Dr. Jester helped set a foundation for future growth.”
Before his tenure at Wayland, Dr. Jester served as a pastor, educator, and missionary. After earning degrees from Georgetown College, Southern Seminary, and Teachers College of Columbia University, he moved to Nigeria, where he played a vital role in founding and developing Baptist education institutions.
After resigning as president of Wayland in 1987, Dr. Jester continued his career in higher education, serving as chancellor and president of Mid-Continent College in Kentucky from 1997 to 2002, before being named chancellor emeritus. In retirement, he remained active in his church as a Sunday School teacher and deacon.
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