John Wesley Raley

Dr. John Wesley Raley (died 1966) was an author, president of Oklahoma Baptist University for 27 years, a member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and of the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame.

Dr. Raley moved to Oklahoma in 1931, when he became pastor at First Baptist Church of Bartlesville. In 1932 Dr. Raley was elected as chairman of the board of trustees of Oklahoma Baptist University. In 1934 Dr. Raley was elected as president of the University, beginning the longest tenure of any OBU president. Dr. Raley received an honorary doctorate from OBU in 1935. In 1958 he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and later inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame.

In 1961 Dr. Raley resigned his position as president of Oklahoma Baptist University, citing reasons of health. He was elected chancellor, serving until his death in 1966.

Among the buildings constructed during Dr. Raley's presidency were Brotherhood Dormitory, Mrs. W.S. Kerr Dormitory, Thurmond Hall, and Clark Craig Fieldhouse.

Dr. Raley and his wife Helen Thames Raley had two children, John Wesley Raley Jr. and Helen Thames Raley Weathers. John Wesley Raley Jr. served in the navy and later became the mayor of Ponca City, Oklahoma, he is now a judge. John Wesley Raley has five great grand children, Wesley, Kate, William, Laura and Chris. His grandson, John Wesley Raley the 3rd. is a six time Texas Lawyer Monthly Texas Super-lawyer.

References

* [http://www2.okbu.edu/library/archives/archindex1.htm#history OBU Archives]
* [http://www2.okbu.edu/library/archives/archindex1.htm#Presidents OBU Presidents]
* [http://www.okbu.edu/alumni/honordocs.html OBU Honorary Doctorate List]
* [http://www2.okbu.edu/news/raley320.html Helen Raley Obituary]