Kilgore, James, 1865-1950

James Kilgore was born January 15, 1865 near Clinton, Texas to James Thomas and Caroline Elizabeth Kilgore. He earned an A.M, M.A., and D.D degree from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas between 1884 and 1890. In 1890, he was ordained to the Methodist ministry. Kilgore served pastorates in the Texas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South for more than twenty years. He was also appointed presiding elder (district superintendent) of the Houston district.

On January 27, 1892, Rev. Kilgore married Lucy B. Pritchett, who died April 3, 1894. In January of 1896 he married Faerie Blanton. They had three sons.

In 1910 Kilgore was appointed secretary of the newly formed Texas Methodist Commission of Education. The twenty-member committee was responsible for choosing Dallas as the home of SMU in 1911. Kilgore served as Professor in the School of Theology from the university’s opening in 1915 until 1934. He taught philosophy of religion, psychology of religion, and Christian doctrine. When the School of Theology’s Dean, Hoyt Dobbs, became too ill to serve, President Hyer appointed Kilgore to chair the theology faculty from September 1919 to February 1920. Kilgore again served as acting Dean of the School of Theology from September 1, 1926 until September 1, 1933. He retired from teaching in 1934.

James Kilgore served on the SMU Board of Trustees from 1912 until 1950. From October 1922 to March 1923 he was appointed acting President of SMU, following the resignation of President Hiram Boaz.

Faerie Blanton Kilgore died on April 7, 1930 after a long illness. James Kilgore died September 25, 1950.

Sources:

"Death claims SMU founder, Dr. Kilgore, 85." Dallas Morning News . September 26, 1950.

Dr. James Kilgore’s statement for the general convocation, James Kilgore papers, Bridwell Library, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

Grimes, Lewis Howard. A History of the Perkins School of Theology . Dallas: Southern Methodist University Press, 1993.

Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Journal of the Thirteenth Annual Session of the Texas Annual Conference of the Methodist Church . Texas, 1951.