Mike Melcher of Plainview, former director of advancement at Wayland Baptist University, died Nov. 4 in Dallas. He was 72. Phillip Michael Melcher was born March 3, 1952, to Louie and Iris Cloninger Melcher in Slaton. After he graduated from Slaton High School, he attended Texas Tech University, where he graduated with an undergraduate degree in business administration. After working briefly in banking, he began his career in the car sales business. He was owner and operator of Melcher Chevrolet in Littlefield from 1983 to 1988. While working at Gary Ritter Autoplex in Brownfield, he met and married Debra Graham. His other business enterprises included owning the Glass Slipper, where he sold shoes; Cake Lady, where he could be seen baking; and the Hot Cracker, where he was often in the kitchen preparing the meals. He began working in the Wayland Baptist University advancement office in 2006. He became director of advancement in 2012, serving in that role until he retired in 2023. In 2018, the Lubbock Association of Fundraising awarded Mike as the Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the year. While at Wayland, he earned a Master of Business Management degree. He was instrumental in bringing the Jimmy Dean Museum and the Jimmy Dean Musical Festival to Plainview. He was awarded Wayland’s highest honor, the President’s Award, in April 2023. For seven years, Mike and Deb Melcher owned and operated the President’s House Bed and Breakfast in Plainview. He held office and volunteered with the Lions Club in Littlefield, Lubbock and Plainview, and he served as a member and director of the Great Plains Lions Eye Bank board. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Barrett Bohn, and a brother, Larry Melcher. He is survived by his wife Deb Melcher of Plainview; son Wes Melcher of Prosper; son Russell Melcher and his wife Elizabeth of Canyon; daughter Kaci Bohn and husband Lee of Canyon; six grandchildren; and brothers Ken Melcher and Joe Melcher. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, in the chapel at First Baptist Church in Plainview. A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 23 in the Harral Auditorium on the Wayland Baptist University campus. Memorial gifts can be made to the Mike Melcher Endowed Scholarship at Wayland Baptist University or the Wind and Rain Campaign at First Baptist Church of Plainview.
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