Bryant Black (1931-2013)
Bryant Black, "Fisherman and Fisher Of Men,” went to be with his Lord on August 13, 2013 at the age of 82. Bryant had been the Director of Development for DTS since 1979 until his retirement in 2008. Bryant built lasting relationships with hundreds of donors at Dallas Seminary and will be remembered for his passion for stewardship, endless generosity, and warm-hearted sense of humor.
He was a Dallas native and graduated from Highland Park High School in 1948 and SMU in 1952. In his teens and twenties he won up to 30 state and regional casting titles, plus two national all-around championships, breaking multiple records. He served at Sand Point Naval Air Station in Seattle and worked as a sales rep for Heddon Lures. He attended Columbia Bible College, Covenant Seminary, and L'Abri Fellowship in Switzerland. He pastored a church in Auburn, AL and was a field rep for Covenant College. After his marriage to Shirley M. Miller in 1969, he relocated to Media, PA, started a family, and worked for The Christian Academy. In 1979 he returned to his hometown to serve as Director of Development at Dallas Seminary.
Bryant was handpicked by Dr. John Walvoord to help him raise the funds needed to accommodate a growing student body. He helped raise the funds for the Turpin Library and the Mitchell Ministry Center and was instrumental in making sure the annual fund was in the black each year. He raised millions for student scholarships to help keep the cost down for those who were called to attend seminary but did not have the resources to pay for tuition. He worked alongside every president, with the exception of our founder Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer. Dr. Don Campbell recently noted that Bryant “did the job that others were often afraid to do, but Bryant did it effortlessly with tremendous results. He knew the secret—love on those that support you and the friendship will often result in a gift and then another gift, etc. He genuinely cared for people and they knew that.”
In his retirement he continued to fish with his son and share his faith in Christ throughout his courageous struggle with Parkinson's and heart issues. He is survived by his wife Shirley M. Black of Rockport, TX, son Stephen B. Black of Austin, TX, daughter Stephanie F. Black of Brooklyn, NY, and sister Frances J. Black of Decatur, GA.
