Article by Hugh M. Smith, 33°
Ill. McCall’s contributions truly made our world a better place to live.
According
to Robert B. Sloan, Jr., President of Baylor University, Ill. Abner V. McCall,
33°, G.C., was "a Baptist’s Baptist; he didn’t act big and
he didn’t walk big, but he walked tall. He was as plain as cornbread,
but he was a solid man, whose life exerted influence in three spheres, Baylor
University, Texas politics, Baptist life." To these three spheres, a fourth
must be added, Scottish Rite Freemasonry.
With Ill. Abner Vernon McCall’s passing on June 11, 1995, a brilliant Masonic star set; however, the afterglow of his presence lingers in the hearts of Masons and will brighten the pathway for future Masonic activities in the "Lone Star" state. Ill. Abner V. McCall will long be revered for his enthusiastic, compassionate leadership and his desire to make the world a better place.
This outstanding man was born on June 8, 1915, in Perrin, Texas. When he was only three, his father died in the dreaded flu epidemic of 1918 after contacting the disease while nursing a Masonic Brother. The mother of the three McCall boys and a daughter made a valiant struggle to carry on alone, but the burden was too heavy, and the children were placed in the Masonic Home and School in Fort Worth, Texas. Here, at the age of seven, was the beginning of McCall’s Masonic influence and commitment.
There in the Masonic Home and School, Abner excelled in everything he went at except for football. This, however, did not deter him from trying, and he become a spindly 130-pound member of the football team, known as the "Mighty Mites." He went on to graduate as valedictorian of his class and received a Masonic scholarship to Baylor University in Waco, Texas. There, in the fall of 1933, during the Great Depression, a not-to-be-discouraged lanky eighteen-year-old set foot on the Baylor campus with about $40 in his pocket and a strong determination to become a lawyer.
Since that day, McCall was a part of Baylor, except for a three-year term of duty as an FBI agent during World War II and a brief fling at practicing law. He became a Baylor Law School graduate, a law professor, Dean of the Law School, Executive Vice President, President, Chancellor, and President Emeritus. He is only the second person to have served as President, Chancellor, and President Emeritus.
During his 20-year tenure (1961–1981) as Baylor’s tenth President, the University reached all-time highs in enrollment, campus and facility expansion, academic stature, national reputation, and capital assets. McCall absolutely refused to take major credit for these achievements, but Baylorites and most objective observers knew he was truly responsible. Due to circumstances—Vietnam, football, changing times, inflation, and other causes—the McCall Era was, paradoxically, the most progressive yet controversial time in the school’s history.
Beyond Baylor University, Ill. McCall was also active in education on the local, regional, state, and national levels. He served on the Waco City Planning Commission and the Waco School Board from 1957 to 1963, the last year as President. He also served as President of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT), as well as participated in the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities and on the Education Commission of the State of Texas. He was a longtime leader of the Organization of Baptist Colleges and Universities.
Also, Texas Baptists greatly benefited from McCall’s many leadership roles at all levels of service from his local church to the national level. He served as President of the Baptist General Convention of Texas during 1964–65 and as First Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in 1979–80, all the while serving as a deacon and teacher in his home church.
Ill. McCall was raised a Master Mason in Baylor Lodge No. 1235 on September 10, 1941. He was a Past Master of his Lodge, served the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas distinctively and unselfishly as a District Deputy Grand Master; Grand Chaplain; and a member of various Grand Lodge committees. He was made a Scottish Rite Mason in October 1956 by the Austin Bodies and affiliated with the Waco Bodies in February 1958 as a Charter Member. He was invested with the Knight Commander Court of Honour in October 1961, coroneted as a 33° Degree Scottish Rite Mason on December 11, 1969, and on November 9, 1991, was accorded the highest honor the Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, can bestow, that of the Grand Cross of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. He also served as President of the Scottish Rite Foundation of Texas from its inception to his death, as well as, creating and serving as President of the Texas Scottish Rite Educational and Fellowship Program of Texas.
This scholarly, humane man maintained throughout his adult life a high profile of active involvement in political, social, and religious matters—often becoming a target of criticism, which never bothered him if the battle he fought was right. He took part in many volatile battles over issues without stooping to pettiness or dealing with personalities.
He was an understanding gentleman. An example of this is reflected in the following statement, which was published in a Scottish Rite Journal article concerning the SBC’s study of Freemasonry: "In thousands of meetings of Freemasons and of Baptists stretching back 60 years, I have seen nothing that made my belief and work in the Fraternity of Freemasons incompatible with my belief and work as a member of a Southern Baptist church."
Whatever field of endeavor he entered, Ill. McCall served with distinction, his contributions to the welfare of mankind making our world truly a better place to live. Yet he was always a humble man, literally rubbing elbows with kings and nobility in many areas of his long, varied career without ever losing the casual, down-to-earth manner which brought him the love and respect of many.
Ill. Abner Vernon McCall, 33°, G.C., was a man of the ages for Baylor University, Texas politics, Baptist life, and the Masonic Fraternity. He served great causes, loved life, and was true to his convictions. His legacy will live forever!
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Hugh M. Smith is Editor of the Texas Mason, the official publication of the Grand Lodge of Texas, and actively involved in the management of a printing/advertisement business. Ill. Smith is also actively involved in the Valley of Waco, Texas, as well as his Blue Lodge (Baird Lodge No. 522, Baird, Texas), National Sojourners, Inc., and the Order of the Eastern Star in Abilene, Texas. |