January 24, 2008

We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Trustee Emeritus Jack L. Stotts ’54, who died January 24 in Austin.

Dr. Stotts was president of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, when he was elected to the Trinity University Board of Trustees in 1991.

He retired from Board service in 2006.

After graduating cum laude from Trinity, Dr. Stotts earned a bachelor of divinity degree from McCormick Seminary, followed by a master’s and a doctorate from Yale University. Additionally, he was awarded doctorates of divinity from Hanover College and Austin College.

During his long and distinguished career, Dr. Stotts served as a pastor, chaplain, and college professor before becoming president of McCormick Theological Seminary prior to his tenure at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He was named Trinity’s Distinguished Alumnus in 1986 and a Distinguished Alumnus of McCormick Seminary in 1991.

Well-known and highly regarded as a theologian/ethicist, Dr. Stotts was the Protestant theologian-speaker at the Workshop on International Cooperation on the Human Genome Project in Valencia, Spain, in November 1990.  Also, he was Moderator for the Special Committee to Prepare a Brief Statement of the Reformed Faith for the Presbyterian Church (USA) and co-edited a book on that Statement. He is the author Believing, Deciding, and Acting,  Shalom: A Search for a Peaceable City, and numerous articles.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia, also a ’54 graduate of Trinity University.