NASHVILLE (BP)—D. August “Augie” Boto announced he will retire from the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee effective Sept. 30.
Boto, executive vice president and general counsel, notified SBC Executive Committee President and CEO Ronnie Floyd of his retirement in a July 18 letter.
His retirement brings his service “full circle,” Boto told Baptist Press, having joined the Executive Committee as a member in 1995, the same year Floyd began his 1995-97 service as the group’s chairman.
Boto, 68, joined the Executive Committee in 1998 as vice president for convention policy, moving to executive vice president and general counsel in 2007.
Served as interim president
He served as interim president and CEO from April 2018 until Floyd assumed office May 20 after his April 2 election at a special Executive Committee meeting in Dallas.
Boto was honored for his 13-month interim role amid his 21 years on the Executive Committee staff by a resolution of appreciation adopted during the group’s June 10 meeting prior to the SBC annual meeting in Birmingham, Ala.
“I have known Augie for many years and appreciate his close walk with the Lord, his deep commitment to his family, his active involvement in his local church, and his love for the Southern Baptist Convention,” Floyd said. “He is a Christian gentleman and a godly layman of the highest order. He ably led the Executive Committee as interim president during a challenging year in Southern Baptist life.
“When Augie began discussing his retirement plans with me, I asked him to continue working alongside me through the September Executive Committee meeting, something he graciously consented to do. I know many others join me in expressing gratitude to the Lord for his 21-year investment in Executive Committee leadership and pray God’s blessings on him and Cindy as they begin the next chapter in their lives together.”
In the letter to Floyd regarding his retirement, Boto wrote: “In examining all the ways I might be of help to you and the future of the Executive Committee, I have come to the conclusion that stepping aside in retirement from my work is the best one. This will provide you with the maximum flexibility in reorganizing and re-tasking the EC staff along lines you believe will be most fruitful.”
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Texas connections
Prior to joining the Executive Committee staff, Boto served as administrative counsel for the Texas District and County Attorneys Association and had been elected as Cooke County prosecutor and helped start the Texas Fellowship of Christian Prosecutors.
At First Baptist in Dallas under the ministry of the late W.A. Criswell, Boto began attending the church at age 13 with his family. He later became a deacon and Sunday school teacher in the young married division.
Boto holds juris doctor and undergraduate degrees from Baylor University. He and his wife have been married nearly 40 years and have three grown children, Lucas, Matt and Grace.
In comments to Baptist Press, Boto noted: “Though my assignments at the Executive Committee may be drawn to a close by my retirement, after a short sabbatical period I expect the Lord will have other things for me to do with and for Southern Baptists, for they are ‘my crowd.’ The vast majority of my happiest times and fondest memories have always come from activities with family—my wife, kids, parents and siblings (my ‘blood’ relatives)—and my broader church and denominational family (my ‘blood of the Lamb’ relatives).”
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