Trustees Select Rex Horne for Ouachita’s Presidency

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS—Dr. Rex Horne, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, has been named president of Ouachita Baptist University. William H. “Buddy” Sutton, chairman of the university’s board of trustees, presented Horne at a Little Rock press conference on Thursday, April 6.

According to Sutton, the Presidential Search Committee’s unanimous recommendation of Horne was embraced by the executive committee of the board, chaired by Johnny Heflin. The executive committee proposed the recommendation to the full board at a called meeting Thursday.

“I am overwhelmed that the search committee and the board would think that I’d be the person to lead Ouachita,” Horne said. “The university has a great history and a strong line of presidents, the last three I count as dear friends. I’m honored to follow their example of service and leadership, and I’m committed to making an impact, not just in the future but right away.”

Sutton said Horne had ideal qualifications to lead Ouachita. “Ouachita has embarked upon a new and aggressive effort in its role as an institution devoted to educational excellence in a spiritual environment,” Sutton said. “Rex Horne enjoys respect for his wise and pure approach to all that he has undertaken, and we are confident that God will lead him to great success at Ouachita.”

Horne said he was particularly motivated to provide support for Ouachita’s academic program, which has consistently ranked in the top five among southern regional comprehensive colleges, according to U.S. News & World Report.

“I’ve followed Ouachita’s growing academic reputation through the years as a student, as the parent of a student and as a board member,” Horne said. “The faculty’s commitment to the students is one of the institution’s greatest strengths. We have well-qualified scholars who share a devotion to a Christ-centered learning community.”

Dr. Ken Shaddox, pastor of First Baptist Church of Searcy and a member of the board, chaired the search committee. Dr. Charles Wright, retired vice president for academic affairs and dean of fine arts, served as vice-chair.

“I was pleased with the process and the positive spirit of the committee,” Shaddox said. “Dr. Horne is a man of integrity and a great communicator. He has a stature that makes people want to listen when he speaks. His role as a leader has extended throughout Arkansas and the region.”

Wright emphasized Horne’s statesmanlike qualities. “I can think of no one who would bring to this presidency a greater commitment to Christian higher education, or one more capable of providing the strong and positive leadership necessary to unite the talents of Ouachita’s faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends.”

Horne has served as a pastor in Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, including the past 16 years at Immanuel.  He was president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention from 1995-97. The decision to leave the pastorate for a new challenge on a university campus required much prayer.

“I came to believe it was the will of God for my life and my ministry,” Horne said. “I do not look upon this as a choice I made but a calling I am following. I received encouragement and was supported by the prayers of many people. I have great respect for the Trustees and everyone associated with Ouachita and Immanuel. I have served what I consider to be finest church in the country, but we have absolute confidence that God has just the right person to lead Immanuel to the next level.”

As the 15th president in Ouachita’s 120-year history, Horne follows Dr. Andrew Westmoreland, who takes over June 1 as president of Samford University of Birmingham, Alabama. Horne also is close to Westmoreland’s two predecessors, Dr. Daniel R. Grant and Dr. Ben M. Elrod. Grant was president when Horne arrived on campus as a student in 1971, and Elrod was the president when Horne joined the board of trustees in 1997.

A native of Bastrop, La., and raised in Camden, Horne has many memories of Ouachita from his childhood. “Our church had a part-time minister of music from Ouachita. We spent time on campus, too. Dad and I would go to Tiger football and basketball games. My parents always had great respect for Ouachita.”

Horne left Arkadelphia after his freshman year when his family moved to Alabama. He later joined his first church staff at First Baptist Church, Batesville. He finished his bachelor’s degree in Batesville at Arkansas College (now Lyon College). Horne earned a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and a doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

With a student-to-teacher ratio of 13:1 and an enrollment of approximately 1,500, Ouachita offers courses in eight schools, including the Frank D. Hickingbotham School of Business, the Chesley and Elizabeth Pruet School of Christian Studies, the Bernice Young Jones School of Fine Arts, the J. D. Patterson School of Natural Sciences, the Michael D. Huckabee School of Education, the School of Humanities, the School of Interdisciplinary Studies and the School of Social Sciences.

web published on April 6, 2006