John Earl Seelig, who served three decades as vice president for public affairs at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, died on Jan. 17. He was 94. Seelig was born on Dec. 11, 1924, in Fredericksburg. He received his undergraduate degree at Hardin-Simmons University and earned his master’s degree in religious education at Southwestern Seminary. Seelig married Virginia Garrett in 1947. Also a Southwestern graduate, she joined the faculty of the School of Church Music in 1958 and taught voice for 27 years. Seelig, meanwhile, served in local churches and was involved in denominational work until he was hired by then-president Robert Naylor as the seminary’s vice president for public affairs in 1960. Following his retirement, Seelig and his wife spent a year in Hawaii serving the Hawaii Baptist Convention. After their return to Texas, the couple became active members of Southcliff Baptist Church, teaching the early-bird senior adult Sunday School class for 30 years. Southwestern Seminary’s board of trustees named a room in the Robert E. Naylor Student Center the John and Virginia Seelig Banquet Room in honor of their decades of service. In 2008, the seminary also honored the Seeligs by giving them the L.R. Scarborough award. Seelig was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 64 years, Virginia, and their son Stephen. He is survived by one son, Timothy; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
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