November 10, 1999

Truett leads readers' poll of top Baptists
___By Mark Wingfield
___Managing Editor
___When the Baptist Standard asked readers this fall to help choose the 10 most-influential Texas Baptists of the 20th century, the responses received were diverse.
___Some thought the mere asking of such a question bordered on idolatry. Others argued that important people were left off the ballot. Everyone seemed to have a slightly different

GEORGE W. TRUETT Texas Baptists love and revere him.

opinion about who should make the top 10.
___Nevertheless, the ballots came pouring in via mail, e-mail and fax. In all, 1,400 valid ballots were received, marking what is believed to be the largest response the Standard ever has witnessed to any solicitation for reader input.
___Despite the vast diversity of opinion, one thing emerged as a clear consensus: Texas Baptists admire and revere George W. Truett.
___Truett, who was pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas from 1987 to 1944, received the largest number of votes and thus becomes the individual Baptist Standard readers believe was the most influential Texas Baptist of the 20th century.
___But that only tells part of the story. Not only did Truett receive the most votes, he received the vote of more than three-fourths of all who sent in ballots. No other nominee came close to this number.
___Beginning with this issue, the Standard will spend five weeks highlighting the stories of those individuals voted the most influential of the 20th century by our readers. Each week's paper also will examine the influences on and influence of Texas Baptists in the 20th century. Each issue will highlight two decades.
___In addition to Truett, here are the individuals readers, listed in order, named as the most influential Texas Baptists of the century:
___2--B.H. Carroll, founder of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
___3--Mary Hill Davis, missions advocate and namesake of the annual offering for Texas missions.
___4--R.C. Buckner, founder of Buckner Baptist Benevolences and of what is today Baylor Healthcare System.
___5--W.A. Criswell, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas.
___6--Russell Dilday, former president of Southwestern Seminary and current president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
___7--E.S. James, former editor of the Baptist Standard.
___8--Angel Martinez, evangelist.
___9--Eula Mae Henderson, former executive secretary-treasurer of Texas Woman's Missionary Union.
___10--Jimmy Allen, former Texas pastor and former president of the Southern Baptist Radio & Television Commission.
___The cut-off point between the No. 10 position and the No. 15 position was relatively close, separated by a margin of only 62 ballots.
___The nominees who fell just shy of the top 10 list are Abner McCall, former president of Baylor University; T.B. Maston, professor of Christian ethics at Southwestern Seminary; Bill Pinson, executive director of the BGCT; Robert Naylor, former president of Southwestern Seminary; and L.R. Scarborough, former president of Southwestern Seminary.

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