BENJAMIN RAY OLIPHINT Ben Oliphint was born in Hemphill, Texas, on May 28, 1924 to Tressie Ray Post and John Houston Oliphint, and died in Houston, Texas on July 7, 2007. He grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, and attended Centenary College. He received a B.A. degree from Southern Methodist University, a M.Div. degree from Duke University, and a S.T.M. degree from Union Theological Seminary, New York. In 1951 he earned his Ph.D. degree from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He received honorary doctorate degrees from Baker University and Wiley College, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from SMU. Between 1947-72, Bishop Oliphint served as pastor of four churches in the United Methodist Louisiana Conference: St. Luke's UMC, New Orleans; First UMC, Alexandria; St. Paul's UMC, Monroe; University UMC, Baton Rouge. In 1972, he transferred to the North Texas Conference and was appointed pastor of First UMC, Dallas. He was elected a bishop of The United Methodist Church in 1980 and served the Kansas area (1980-1984) and Houston area (1984-1992), and as interim bishop of the Louisiana area (1987-1988). From 1992-2002, he served as President of the Texas United Methodist College Association. Bishop Oliphint was elected a delegate to seven United Methodist General Conferences, and led the delegation four times. As bishop, he served as President of the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, and President of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and was a member of the Presidium of the World Methodist Council. He was instrumental in founding Africa University, Zimbabwe, and served as a trustee for numerous United Methodist institutions, including SMU and Methodist Hospital, Houston. Bishop Oliphint is survived by his wife of 55 years, Nancy Kelley Oliphint of Houston; daughter Mary Brooke Casad and husband, Victor of Carrollton; son Stuart Oliphint and wife, Cassandra of Fort Worth; son Clayton Oliphint and wife, Lori of Dallas; son Kelley Oliphint and wife, Priscilla of La Grange, and grandchildren McCrae, Melissa and Carter Casad; Alex Coats and Irene and Lillian Oliphint; Erin, Katy and Grant Oliphint; Ben Oliphint, and great-grandson Revol Casad. Other survivors include brother John Oliphint, and wife Ruth of Colorado Springs