Rev. C. L. Bowden Wins New Honors

Rev. Chesley L. Bowden, student of the Southwestern Seminary, at Seminary Hill, Texas, who is a Tipton county boy, won first honors in a recent oratorical contest staged by the rival literary societies of that institution.

He was one of the four contestants selected by the societies to compete for first honors and to have first place as an orator among 400 preachers is an honor to be coveted. Mr. Bowden’s subject was “Egypt and Her Tombs.”

Every judge gave him first place and ranking score. His rich resonant voice, pleasant and easy manner and his ease on the platform were the outstanding things in his delivery.

[ Rev. C. L. Bowden Wins New Honors , The Covington Leader, Covington, Tenn., 20 Dec 1922]

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Rev. Chesley L. Bowden, student of the Southwestern Seminary on the Hill

Southwestern Seminary moved from Waco to Fort Worth in 1910. The city government, the Baptists of the city, and many generous non-Baptists gave sacrificially to purchase a large tract of land and establish its campus at a place that would become known as “Seminary Hill.” Named in honor of its new hometown’s generous support, Fort Worth Hall was built in 1910 and housed the seminary’s classrooms, library, offices, chapel, and dormitory. It remains the oldest building in continual operation on any of the six Southern Baptist seminary campuses.