Charles P. McLaughlin

Baptist General Convention of Texas, BA 1941

Charles P. McLaughlin was born November 2, 1919 in Rotan, Texas. He earned the Bachelor of Arts degree from Hardin-Simmons University in 1941 and the Master of Religious Education degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1950.

During World War II McLaughlin was the co-pilot on a B-24 bomber that crash-landed in Sweden following a bombing mission over Germany. Interned in that neutral country, he became active in ministry with the Baptists there.

Early in his career McLaughlin served as education/music minister in churches in Louisiana and Texas. From 1960 until 1964 he was the Director of the Missions Division of the Missions Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and then served as Director of the Commission from 1964 until his retirement in 1987. He led in the establishment of thousands of churches in Texas and over 600 churches and 67 medical clinics in Mexico.

Following his retirement from the BGCT, McLaughlin became the Minister of Education, Minister of Administration, and Assistant Pastor of Pastoral Care at the First Baptist Church of Dallas.

From 1952 to 1958 he was a member of the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. In 1958 he was elected Vice President of the BGCT, and in 1959 he became President of the BGCT’s Sunday School Convention. HSU awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1957 and the Distinguished Alumnus award in 1985.

Dr. McLaughlin was married to Jewette Patton of Paint Rock, Texas. The couple had three children. He died on August 5, 1998.

Hardin-Simmons University proudly honors the life of Charles P. McLaughlin.