George William BonDurant (9 August 1915 – 11 July 2017) was an American preacher influential in the Restoration Movement of Christianity during the 20th century. He was the founder and first President of both

Atlanta Christian College Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

and Mid-Atlantic Christian University. BonDurant was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2009.

Early life and education

BonDurant attended

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

for one year before transferring to

Cincinnati Christian University Cincinnati Christian University (CCU) was a private Christian university in Cincinnati, Ohio. CCU was supported by the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, which are part of the Restoration Movement. The university was accredited by the Hi ...

. He graduated from

in 1936.

Atlanta Christian College

After several unsuccessful attempts by other parties to start a Christian college in the

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

, Georgia area, BonDurant and his wife, Sarah BonDurant (née Presley), founded

in 1937. Financial resources were provided by Fulton County Judge T. O. Hathcock. BonDurant served as the college's first President until he resigned over a dispute with the trustees in 1947.

Mid-Atlantic Christian University

BonDurant then found employment as an evangelist of the Roanoke District Christian churches and churches of Christ in eastern

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

in 1947. The BonDurants founded Mid-Atlantic Christian University (known as ''Roanoke Bible College'' until 2009) in Elizabeth City, North Carolina in 1948 due to the extreme lack of preachers in the area at the time. Under his leadership, Mid-Atlantic Christian University received its first school accreditation in 1979 from the

Association for Biblical Higher Education The Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), formerly The Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (AABC) is an evangelical Christian organization of bible colleges in the United States and Canada. It is a member of the International Co ...

. BonDurant retired in 1986 and was succeeded by William A. Griffin. BonDurant was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine on December 2, 2009 by North Carolina

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Bev Perdue Beverly Eaves Perdue (born Beverly Marlene Moore; January 14, 1947) is an American businesswoman, politician, and member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party who served as the List of governors of North Carolina, 73rd Govern ...

for his work at Mid-Atlantic Christian University and his contributions to the state. He turned 100 in August 2015. BonDurant died on 11 July 2017, four weeks before his 102nd birthday.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bondurant, George W. 1915 births 2017 deaths American centenarians Cincinnati Christian University alumni Columbia University alumni Men centenarians Point University presidents Restoration Movement

Early life and education

Atlanta Christian College

Mid-Atlantic Christian University

See also

References