Bio – Sleeth, Ronald Eugene

Born: June 7, 1921 (Charleston, Kanawha, West Virginia)

Died: April 11, 1985 (Denver, CO)

Education:

  • Charleston High School
  • A.B. West Virginia Wesleyan College (English) 1942
  • B.D. Yale University 1945
  • Masters (Communication) Northwestern University 1952
  • Ph.D. (Communication) Northwestern University 1952

Served: 1946-

  • Community Council Committee: 1946-1947
  • Faculty Advisor for the Pharos 1947-1948
  • Faculty Committee: Chapel and Assembly 1947-1948
  • Faculty Committee: Counseling 1947-1948

Taught:

  • Assistant Professor of Speech 1946-1948

Notes – WVWC Student

  • Kappa Alpha
  • President of Class 1938
  • Choir
  • Drum Major, 1942
  • Playshop (President 1942)
  • Student Council (President 1942)
  • Alpha Psi Omega
  • Sigma Alpha Sigma
  • Intramural Sports
  • Who’s Who in American Colleges
  • Pharos Staff

Notes – Post WVWC

  • 1944 Ordained Deacon: West Virginia Annual Conference
  • 1945-1946 Chaplain in the United States Navy
  • 1946-1948 Taught Speech at WVWC
  • 1947 Ordained Elder: West Virginia Annual Conference
  • Taught at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
  • Taught at Vanderbilt University
  • Taught at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University 1969-1976
  • President of the Academy of Homiletics in 1972
  • President of West Virginia Wesleyan College 1976-1977
  • Taught at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary 1978-1981
  • Taught at Iliff School of Theology, 1981-1985
  • Author of several books including:
    • Persuasive Preaching (1956)
    • Proclaiming the Word (1964)
    • Which Way To God? (1968)
    • God’s Word and Our Words: Basic Homiletics (1986) was nearly complete at the time of his death, and was completed by Fred B. Craddock
  • Author of numerous articles in religious and academic journals
  • West Virginia Wesleyan College Board of Trustees voted on May 18, 1985 to name the Wesleyan Art Gallery the Ronald E. Sleeth Art Gallery. It is located on the first floor of McCuskey Hall.
  • His wife, Natalie Sleeth, was a well-known composer, and wrote “Joy In The Morning” especially for Ronald’s inaugural ceremony, where it was performed by the WVWC Choir.

Sources:

Related Pages:

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