Walker, James Herbert "J.H." Sr.
James Herbert "J.H." Walker (1900-1976) senior served as the fifth superintendent of the Bible Training School, now Lee University, from 1930-35 and as president from 1944-45.
J. H. Walker Sr. was selected in 1930 as Superintendent. At 30 years of age, he holds the record as the youngest of the presidents at time of appointment. He helped usher in a period of academic advancement and curriculum expansion that ultimately set the school on course for its destiny.
Interestingly, in 1914 in his home state of Louisiana he received the Pentecostal experience and joined the Church of God through the ministry of W.A. Capshaw and daughter, Jessie Capshaw. You may have heard of Jessie Capshaw, who was one of the first students at BTS in 1918.
J H Walker began pastoring in 1917 and took a break in 1925 to enroll at BTS. While a student he served as choir director at North Cleveland Church and traveled with the General Overseer S.W. Latimer for evangelistic crusades.
Walker graduated from BTS in 1927 as Valedictorian, and immediately he was hired full-time as a teacher and the secretary-treasurer for the school. He also pastored at nearby Etowah. During this time, he and his wife, Blanche, lived in the dormitory– the old sanctuary of North Cleveland Church. There, in 1928, their son, Herb Walker Jr, was born– and one day would become a teacher and academic leader at Lee College.
J. H. Walker Sr. continued teaching at BTS and serving the school as secretary-treasurer until 1930, when he was selected to lead the school as Superintendent. He was the first alumnus of the school to serve in this position. During his tenure enrollment continued to increase– slowly, but steadily.
One of the first things he did was to add a high school department. In those days pastors often were appointed to different churches each year at either the General Assembly or state conventions. This made it difficult for pastor’s children to assimilate into schools. This was a main reason the high school began.
It just so happened 1930 was the opportune time. T.M. Blackwell was appointed state overseer for Tennessee and the state parsonage was near the location of the school. Blackwell’s daughter, Mildred, had recently earned an Associates degree and was hired as teacher of high school courses. This is pivotal moment in the school’s history as we will see in a moment.
In his home state of Louisiana, J. H. Walker Sr. had taken business courses and took private violin lessons. Although he did not earned the degree, the training impacted him. He understood the value it added to his life and development. As such, when he was elected to lead the school, he immediately began the business and music programs.
Superintendent Walker also hired the first teachers twith degrees, and the first full-time teachers who were not Church of God but would add to the academic development of the students.
Commercial [Business] Department began with Henrietta Ayer Green teaching the courses; she is first known full-time teacher at BTS who was not Church of God. The Music Department began with Otis McCoy teaching the courses; he later would serve as principal editor of the highly popular Church Hymnal, better known as the “Redback Hymnal”. In 1932 Katherine Lowery Trewhitt hired to teach Greek; the second non-Church of God teacher at BTS and the first to hold a Bachelor’s degree, which she earned in Chattanooga while teaching at BTS. During Superintendent Walker’s tenure, student enrollment increased from 87 to 131, with an additional 123 students in music normal and other courses.
In 1935 Walker was elected as General Overseer of the denomination– the youngest person to fill that role. But this period of Walker leadership’s at BTS was key for setting the stage for our expansion and development as an academic institution.
In 1944 he returned to the school as President. Although enrollment reached a record 630 students that year, the Board did not think he was the right fit for the school at that time. After one year as president, Walker returned to pastoring.
The Walker Memorial Building on campus is named for him. He was married to Blanche Jinkerson (1906-1997).
/ L.F. Morgan
J. H. Walker Sr. was selected in 1930 as Superintendent. At 30 years of age, he holds the record as the youngest of the presidents at time of appointment. He helped usher in a period of academic advancement and curriculum expansion that ultimately set the school on course for its destiny.
Interestingly, in 1914 in his home state of Louisiana he received the Pentecostal experience and joined the Church of God through the ministry of W.A. Capshaw and daughter, Jessie Capshaw. You may have heard of Jessie Capshaw, who was one of the first students at BTS in 1918.
J H Walker began pastoring in 1917 and took a break in 1925 to enroll at BTS. While a student he served as choir director at North Cleveland Church and traveled with the General Overseer S.W. Latimer for evangelistic crusades.
Walker graduated from BTS in 1927 as Valedictorian, and immediately he was hired full-time as a teacher and the secretary-treasurer for the school. He also pastored at nearby Etowah. During this time, he and his wife, Blanche, lived in the dormitory– the old sanctuary of North Cleveland Church. There, in 1928, their son, Herb Walker Jr, was born– and one day would become a teacher and academic leader at Lee College.
J. H. Walker Sr. continued teaching at BTS and serving the school as secretary-treasurer until 1930, when he was selected to lead the school as Superintendent. He was the first alumnus of the school to serve in this position. During his tenure enrollment continued to increase– slowly, but steadily.
One of the first things he did was to add a high school department. In those days pastors often were appointed to different churches each year at either the General Assembly or state conventions. This made it difficult for pastor’s children to assimilate into schools. This was a main reason the high school began.
It just so happened 1930 was the opportune time. T.M. Blackwell was appointed state overseer for Tennessee and the state parsonage was near the location of the school. Blackwell’s daughter, Mildred, had recently earned an Associates degree and was hired as teacher of high school courses. This is pivotal moment in the school’s history as we will see in a moment.
In his home state of Louisiana, J. H. Walker Sr. had taken business courses and took private violin lessons. Although he did not earned the degree, the training impacted him. He understood the value it added to his life and development. As such, when he was elected to lead the school, he immediately began the business and music programs.
Superintendent Walker also hired the first teachers twith degrees, and the first full-time teachers who were not Church of God but would add to the academic development of the students.
Commercial [Business] Department began with Henrietta Ayer Green teaching the courses; she is first known full-time teacher at BTS who was not Church of God. The Music Department began with Otis McCoy teaching the courses; he later would serve as principal editor of the highly popular Church Hymnal, better known as the “Redback Hymnal”. In 1932 Katherine Lowery Trewhitt hired to teach Greek; the second non-Church of God teacher at BTS and the first to hold a Bachelor’s degree, which she earned in Chattanooga while teaching at BTS. During Superintendent Walker’s tenure, student enrollment increased from 87 to 131, with an additional 123 students in music normal and other courses.
In 1935 Walker was elected as General Overseer of the denomination– the youngest person to fill that role. But this period of Walker leadership’s at BTS was key for setting the stage for our expansion and development as an academic institution.
In 1944 he returned to the school as President. Although enrollment reached a record 630 students that year, the Board did not think he was the right fit for the school at that time. After one year as president, Walker returned to pastoring.
The Walker Memorial Building on campus is named for him. He was married to Blanche Jinkerson (1906-1997).
/ L.F. Morgan