Posted on 01/21/2005 4:32:19 PM PST by freedom44
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) -- Bob Jones III said Thursday he will retire as president of the Christian university that bears his name, ending a 34-year reign during which the school grabbed headlines because of its racial policies and fundamentalist views.
Jones' son will take over as president of the school in May.
The 65-year-old Jones, whose grandfather founded Bob Jones University 78 years ago, said it was time for someone younger and "closer to the present generation" to take over.
"I've seen too many institutions -- churches, Christian ministries -- suffer when somebody stays too long," he said. "And I've never wanted that to happen here."
Jones said he will spend more time traveling and preaching but will remain a visible part of the campus, as chairman of the board of trustees and perhaps as "grandpa" to 5,000 students who attend college at the campus in Greenville, about 100 miles northwest of Columbia.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
>>The man was an anti-Catholic bigot>>
I hope you're not suggesting that Catholics are Christians. That is an old argument, already lost by Catholics and pro-Catholics.
Curiously, his son, Bob Jones IV got his Masters and PhD from that well known Catholic school - Notre Dame University.
what kind of university is called "Bob"? Couldn't they have at least called it "Robert Jones"?
Saying that you think certain beliefs of Catholicism are false is not anti-Catholic. Saying outright lies - that Catholicism is a cult or not Christian is anti-Catholic. Let's hope the new president isn't as much of a bigot as his predecessor.
Unfortunately, the Jones' seem to be more contentious than they need to be. Old Dr. Bob, the founder, was a "fightin' fundy" to be sure. In 1956 he even took on Billy Graham. Famous day in chapel one day, when he made students take a stand for Dr. Bob, and against Billy Graham. He sure had a lot of students confused about that one.
Dating at Bob Jones U was never dating in the sense that most people think of dating. Physical contact could not be made, including holding hands. Much of the ban on interracial dating goes back to the days in the south when water fountains and bathrooms were "colored and white". They just had to be dragged into a more moderate approach.
As has been mentioned, his son took post graduate work at Notre Dame, so perhaps change is afoot.
Alas, the fact that Bob the third is considering being a grampa to the student body makes me feel real old. When he was a freshman at BJU, Bob the third was in one of my classes.
Hand holding has never been allowed there, only "eye balling" (i.e. googling) the opposite sex.
This is a first, someone who doesn't have the first name "Bob". Will Stephen Jones be called "Dr. Steve"?
However, its good to see nepotism is still alive and well at one of SC's premier educational institutions. /saracsm
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.