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- The Dallas Morning News
October 9, 1968
Dr. Wallace Bassett, Noted Churchman Dies
Dr. Wallace Bassett, 83, who served as pastor of the Cliff Temple Baptist Church for nearly 50 years, died Tuesday in Baylor Medical Center.
Dr. Bassett, of 1939 W. Colorado, was pastor of Cliff Temple from 1918 until his retirement March 1, 1966. His pastorate, the longest in the history of the Southern Baptist Convention, brought the Oak Cliff church from 1,100 members 50 years ago to 6,400 today, and from one building to an 8-building complex.
As President of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annuity board for 43 years and president emeritus since his retirement, the dean of Texas Baptist ministers guided the financial institution from a $100,000 operation in 1918 to a $152 million one today.
Born in Middle Grove, Missouri, Dr. Bassett received a BA degree from LaGrange College in LaGrange, Missouri, in 1909. After studying at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, and Newtown Baptist Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts, he received a doctor of divinity degree from LaGrange in 1916. Baylor University in Waco conferred another doctorate degree upon him in 1920.
Dr. Bassett began his career in the pulpit in Sulphur Springs. In 1915 he became pastor of the First Baptist Church of Amarillo, serving there until his appointment to Cliff Temple.
In addition to his work on the Southern Baptist Annuity Board, he had been president of the State Mission Board of the Texas Baptists, chairman of the Texas Baptist State Executive Board and a trustee of Baylor University.
He also was a trustee of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and served three terms as president of the Baptist General Convention in Texas.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Mrs. Travis Johnson of Dallas, Mrs. William B. Mayfield of Corsicana and Mrs. John Olson III of Albuquerque, New Mexico; a son, Dr. Wallace H. Bassett of Dallas, and five grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Cliff Temple Baptist Church. Burial will be in Laurel Land Memorial Park.
Who Was Who in America, Volume 7, 1977-1981
Bassett, Wallace, clergyman;
born - Middle Grove, Missouri, December 31, 1884;
son of Alexander Martin and Mary (Settle) B.;
Ph.B., La Grange (Missouri.) College, 1909; student Kansas City Theological Seinary, one year, Newton Theological Institution., one year; D.D., La Grange, 1916, Baylor University, 1920;
Married - Lottie Bounds, December 25, 1906 (died Dec. 4, 1938); married second, Hassie Mayfield, October 10, 1940;
Children - Marcella Margaret (Mrs. Travis Johnson), Evelyn Elaine (Mrs. H. Bertram Smith), and Verona (Mrs. Wesley Tomlinson), Wallace (M.D.).
Began preaching, 1902; ordained Baptist ministry, 1905; pastor Sulphur Springs, Texas, 1910-15, First Church, Amarillo, 1915-18, Cliff Temple Church, Dallas, since 1918. President Relief and Annunity Board Southern Baptist Convention; trustee Baylor University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, Kentucky). President State Mission Board Texas Baptists; president Baptist General Convention of Texas. Mason.
Author: Beatific Verities, 1917; A Star at Midnight, 1940.
Home: Dallas, Texas
1900 Federal Census of Middle Grove, Union Township, Monroe County, Missouri (1 Jun 1900)
Alexander M. Bassett - 47 - M - May 1853 -MO-VA-VA - Head - Landlord
Mollie E. - 45 - F - Nov 1855 - MO-KY-VA - Wife
Herman G. - 21 - M - Oct 1878 - MO-MO-MO - Son
Wallace G. - 15 - M - Dec 1884 - MO-MO-MO - Son
Ellen W. - 10 - F - Nov 1889 - MO-MO-MO - Daughter
Maggie J. Jones - 19 - F - Oct 1880 - MO-MO-MO - Daughter
1930 Federal Census of Dallas, Dallas County, Texas
Wallace Bassett - 45 - M - MO-MO-MO - Head - Minister Oak Cliff Baptist Church
Lottie - 43 - F - MO-PA-GM - Wife
Elaine - 20 - F - MO-MO-MO - Daughter
Wallace Jr. - 16 - M - TX-MO-MO - Son
Verna Tomlinson - 18 - F - TX-MO-MO - Daughter
Mrs. A.M. Bassett (Wd) - 74 - F - MO-VA-KY - Mother
(Living at 219 Montreal Street)
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Bassett Family Association Database
1884 - 1968 (83 years)