Pastor and South Texas community leader Dorso Maciel and denominational leader Dick Maples were named recipients of Texas Baptists’ 2023 Legacy Awards.
The awards will be presented June 4 at the historic Independence Baptist Church near Brenham in recognition of Maciel’s and Maples’ lifelong commitment to Christian service.
Dorso Maciel felt God’s call to pastoral ministry when he was a teenager. He was a student at Baylor University when he took his first pastorate in 1959 at Primera Iglesia Bautista in Marlin, where he met his wife Stella. The couple will celebrate their 63rd anniversary on June 15.
Maciel has served more than three decades as pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Laredo.
He also was pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Goliad, Primera Iglesia Bautista in Mathis, Iglesia Bautista Getsemani in McAllen and New Life Baptist Church in Beeville.
Maciel has served on the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board and in various capacities with Blanco Baptist Association and Rio Grande Valley Baptist Associations, as well as South Texas Children’s Home Ministries.
He has held various civic leadership roles including school boards and other civic boards. He has served with the Salvation Army, the Laredo HIV/AIDS Services Consortia and the Webb County Emergency Food and Shelter board.
Maciel has been honored by the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, STCH Ministries and Baylor University.
James Richard (Dick) Maples was born in Goodnight and has served Christ faithfully in multiple roles, both in the local church and in denominational life.
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He was pastor of First Baptist Church in Texas City, First Baptist Church in El Paso and First Baptist Church in Bryan, along with First Baptist Church of Waynesville, N.C. He was named pastor emeritus of First Baptist in El Paso.
Maples served in BGCT Executive Board staff roles including coordinator of minister/church relations and associate executive director.
After retirement from the state convention, Maples served was interim pastor for several churches and was special assistant to the president and adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University.
He served terms as president and first vice president of the BGCT, and he was a member of the BGCT Executive Board, the Administrative Committee and the Christian Life Commission.
Maples also was a trustee of Hardin-Simmons University, East Texas Baptist University and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
He earned an undergraduate degree from Mississippi College, a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He received honorary degrees from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Dallas Baptist University and Baylor University.
Maples and his wife Mary Jo currently live in Guntersville, Ala., where they collaborate in teaching a Bible study class at First Baptist Church. They have two children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
The Texas Baptists Legacy Awards will be presented during the Sunday morning worship service at Independence Baptist Church, with lunch to follow. To make a lunch reservation, contact Becky Brown at [email protected] or (214) 828-5301.
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