DeWolf, L. Harold (Lotan Harold), 1905-1986

L. (Lotan) Harold Dewolf (1905-1986) was a native of Columbus, Nebraska. He received his A.B. from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1924 and his S.T.B. in 1926. He earned a Ph.D. from Boston University in 1935. From 1926 through 1936, DeWolf served as a Methodist minister in Nebraska and Massachusetts, respectively. From 1934-1944 he was a professor in the Department of Philosophy at Boston University before becoming a professor of Systematic Theology at Boston University. Dr. DeWolf was the author of several books, including The Religious Revolt against Reason; Eternal Life: Why We Believe; What Americans should do about Crime; and Crime and Justice in America: A Paradox of Conscience. He is also the author of several other publications, including “The Case for Theology in Liberal Perspective” and “Responsible Freedom: Guidelines for Christian Action.” While at Boston University, L. Harold DeWolf was the dissertation advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr. The two remained in contact in the following years and Dr. DeWolf supported King’s efforts in the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. DeWolf was invited by Martin Luther King to help with his desegregation campaign in St. Augustine, FL. Dr. DeWolf and three colleagues from Boston University were part of the tense civil rights discussions in St. Augustine. They were forced to move to the 4th floor of the Jacksonville Courthouse due to tension between the black and white neighborhoods in St. Augustine. However, despite these tensions, an agreement was reached. In 1964 DeWolf facilitated the donation of Martin Luther King’s papers to Boston University. DeWolf spoke at King’s funeral on April 9, 1968, calling him “an exemplar of faith, hope, and love.” L. Harold DeWolf later testified before congress during the efforts to set aside a national holiday honoring Dr. King.

In 1965, DeWolf became dean and professor of Systematic Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. He retired in 1972. His teaching of Christian Ethics led him to study the problems of justice as an ethical problem. He received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to travel abroad to study criminal justice systems. He believed that correctional institutions should not be given over to “social revenge” but rather to human redemption.

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