PLAINVIEW, TX — Dr. Paul Armes, President Emeritus of Wayland Baptist University returns to the campus Feb. 25-26 as the featured speaker for the 72nd annual Willson Lectures.
The Willson Lectures Committee announced his selection today. Dr. Armes becomes the first legacy speaker in the history of the Willson Lectures. His mother, Mrs. Woodson Armes, spoke on “Home and Family Life” in 1959 during a session of the seventh annual Willson Lectures.
Dr. Armes served as Wayland’s president from 2001 to 2016, a transformative era marked by significant growth and innovation. Under his leadership, the university expanded its academic programs, strengthened its mission-driven initiatives, and completed key campus improvements, including a new student activities center and men’s dormitory. His presidency also saw the university’s endowment grow from $31 million to $83 million, ensuring a heritage of financial health and opportunity for future generations.
The two-day Willson Lectures include public, private, and classroom lectures at Wayland’s Plainview campus. Following a private dinner lecture for local Baptist and community leaders, as well as Wayland faculty and staff, on Tuesday, Feb. 25, Dr. Armes will be featured at the Willson Lectures Chapel at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 26, in Harral Memorial Auditorium. He also will be speaking in select classes during the day and visit First Baptist Church of Plainview Wednesday night.
Some Implications of Imago Dei is the title of his chapel lecture, which is free and open to the public. His lecture is based on Genesis 1:26-27 in the Bible. A question-and-answer session with Dr. Armes is scheduled for 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 26 6, in UC-211 in McClung University Center. Lunch may be purchased in Wayland’s cafeteria immediately following the chapel lecture and brought upstairs to the question-and-answer session in the upper-level meeting room.
A native of Waco, Dr. Armes was born in 1949 to a preacher’s family and felt called to ministry early in life. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Baylor University, followed by a Master of Divinity and Ph.D. in Old Testament Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Before his tenure at Wayland, Dr. Armes held pastoral positions across Texas, Missouri, and New Mexico and served as president of San Marcos Baptist Academy. A skilled educator and administrator, he also contributed as an adjunct professor at Wayland, Southwestern Seminary, and Howard Payne University. His professional development has included participation in the Harvard Seminar for New Presidents as well as post-graduate studies in Education Administration at Southwest State University.
During his time in Plainview, Dr. Armes was involved in Leadership Plainview and Plainview Rotary Club. He also served as a member of the Plainview Hale County Economic Development Corp., Plainview First, and Plainview Area United Way. He was named Plainview’s Man of the Year in 2013.
Dr. Armes is recognized for his eloquence, integrity, and unwavering commitment to Christian education. His leadership at Wayland not only fostered academic excellence but also deepened the university’s spiritual mission, inspiring faculty, staff, and students alike. As President Emeritus, he continues to influence Baptist higher education and ministry.
Established in 1953 with a gracious gift from Floydada residents Dr. James M. and Mavis Willson, their intent was for the annual lectureship to feature topics related to “Applied Christianity” and “Christian Home and Family Life.” Wayland has remained true to their wishes through the years. Like the outstanding speakers brought to the campus through the years, the presentations by Dr. Armes will focus on applying Christianity with emphasis on home and family life.
The Willsons were successful businesspersons and active community residents. Dedicated Methodist laypersons, they were active in their local church. Dr. Willson served as a trustee at McMurry University, Southern Methodist University, and Methodist Hospital in Lubbock, which is now known as Covenant Health. Dr. Willson received a merit award from Wayland and was the recipient of several awards and honors. Wayland also nominated Dr. Willson for the Freedom Foundation Award in 1960, which he received in Valley Forge, Pa. He participated in numerous civic organizations, including the West Texas Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, the Masons, and the Shriners.
The Willsons’ legacy at Wayland is the outstanding speakers who have been brought to the Plainview campus through the years. At the invitation of the university, many of the Willsons’ descendants attend the private dinner lecture as well as the chapel lecture, where students, faculty, staff, and the public get an opportunity to hear high-caliber national and international speakers.
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