Entering the office of seminary professor Dr. LeRoy Ford, I was immediately struck by the different strands of barbed wire decoratively placed around the walls of the small room. I was in my first semester as a religious education student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The year was 1967.
Following my eyes and sensing the question forming on my lips, Dr. Ford explained that he had joined a barbed wire collector's club in Fort Worth. Perhaps he was reared on a farm, I thought. But after a little gentle probing (we shared the trait of curiosity), he explained that he had joined the group as an opportunity to witness.
My next thought was that I had just met "The Nutty Professor."
"I don't get to know many unsaved people," Dr. Ford continued. "This seemed like a good place to meet a few." Stunned by his creative approach to evangelism, I would soon discover LeRoy had a creative approach to everything.
He loved photography, skilled in picturing flowers and other wonders of nature. He relished the Mexican culture and studied all things Aztec. He was a Baptist historian, a talented cartoonist, an artful editor, and the author of several books.
LeRoy supervised my doctoral dissertation. He got me my first writing assignment with the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay). I took every course he offered, including his very first practicum on curriculum design. I modeled my teaching, curriculum writing, and editing on the skills, instruction, and values of LeRoy Ford.
Our earthly friendship of 45 years ended yesterday. Dr. Ford died July 9, 2012, after a short stay in the hospital. I already miss him.
LeRoy is survived by his talented wife Jeanette, an archivist and author in her own right, children and grandchildren, and hundreds of students. I was his favorite, I tell myself, smugly. We all thought we were. He made everyone feel special.
