{"id":363809,"date":"2026-07-07T10:40:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T10:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/363809\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T10:40:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T10:40:28","slug":"robert-b-sloan-houston-christian-university-president-has-died","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/363809\/","title":{"rendered":"Robert B Sloan, Houston Christian University president, has died"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Michael Gryboski<\/a>, Editor Monday, July 06, 2026\"Twitter\"<\/a>\"RobertRobert B. Sloan Jr., president of Houston Christian University, gives a commencement address to college graduate in 2023. | YouTube\/Houston Christian University <\/p>\n

Houston Christian University President Robert B. Sloan Jr., who is credited with helping expand the status of Baylor University amid controversy, has died suddenly at the age of 77.<\/p>\n

HCU Board Chairman Ramiro Pe\u00f1a issued a statement <\/a>on Saturday announcing that Sloan had died suddenly that morning, asking for prayers for his wife, children and grandchildren.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor two decades, Dr. Sloan led HCU through her most monumental and glorious years, impacting countless lives of students, faculty, alumni, staff, trustees, and friends,\u201d stated Pe\u00f1a.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder the leadership of God\u2019s hand during his presidency, the university experienced unprecedented growth in student population and degree programs, campus construction and expansion, national visibility, and incomparable spiritual awakening.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pe\u00f1a added that the \u201cfingerprints of Dr. Sloan\u2019s leadership will continue to be upon the success of HCU for generations to come, and the impact of his presidency will yield outcomes both measurable and eternal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Richard Land, executive editor of The Christian Post, said in a statement to CP on Monday that Sloan was a \u201ctremendous academic leader and spiritual leader\u201d who \u201cprovided decades of outstanding administration to Baptist universities in Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n

A native of Coleman, Texas, Sloan was born in 1949 and graduated from Baylor University in 1970, then earned a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. Later, he earned doctorate in Theology at the University of Basel in Switzerland.<\/p>\n

Sloan was president of Baylor from 1995 to 2005, having also served there as the\u00a0founding dean of George W. Truett Theological Seminary and university chancellor from 2005 to 2006.<\/p>\n

Current Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone said in a statement <\/a>on Independence Day that Sloan helped to make the Texas-based Christian academic institution into a top-tier school.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis greatest contribution was the adoption of Baylor 2012, a 10-year vision that placed Baylor on the path to become a top-tier university while remaining committed to our historic Christian mission,\u201d stated Livingstone.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that is where Baylor stands today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sloan\u2019s time at Baylor was not without controversy, as some took issue with the implementation of the Baylor 2012 initiative, believing it was too costly and moved the university away from its core values.<\/p>\n

In September 2003, the faculty senate at Baylor gave Sloan a vote of \u201cno confidence,\u201d ABP News<\/a> reported in 2005, while five regents, three former regent chairmen and the editorial board of the campus newspaper called for his removal.<\/p>\n

At one point, nearly half of Baylor\u2019s 838 faculty at the time called for his removal from office, though a 2004 vote from the board of regents indefinitely postponed a call for his resignation.<\/p>\n

When Sloan transitioned from president to chancellor, Baylor Board of Regents Chair Will Davis said in January 2005<\/a> that \u201cBaylor has been through a challenging period over the past 18 months.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, Davis believed that \u201cyou will see ample evidence that President Sloan has led Baylor through a period of tremendous growth and progress\u201d during his time in office.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone who walks across this campus or talks to faculty, staff, students, parents, donors and alumni, or to higher education leaders across the nation, will see and hear tangible expressions of the progress made under President Sloan,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

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