DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it — and some stories, friend, the marker doesn't have to dress up one bit. Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor. Say that name slow. 1791 to 1873.
By the time this man was done, he'd left fingerprints on Kentucky, Alabama, the Republic of Texas, and the state that followed — and if you're driving through McLennan County right now, you are deep in his territory. Let's start with the résumé, because it is something. Member of the Kentucky legislature.
Congressman from Kentucky. Then he picks up and moves — congressman from Alabama. United States Senator from Alabama.
The man wasn't exactly shy about public service. And then Texas called, the way Texas has a habit of doing, and Judge Baylor answered. Under the Republic of Texas, he served five years as associate justice of the Supreme Court.
Five years on the highest bench of a nation. Then Texas became a state and he kept right on going — twenty years as district judge for the state courts. Twenty years.
That's not a career, that's a commitment. And before any of that courtroom work, there was the battlefield. He commanded a company in the War of 1812.
He served as a soldier in the Creek and Indian War, the Mexican War, and the Texas-Indian War. The man knew how to follow orders and how to give them. But here's where the story takes a turn that surprises people.
Because Judge Baylor — this legislator, this senator, this soldier, this justice — was also a preacher. He organized the Union Association, the first Baptist organization in Texas. He presented the first report in behalf of Christian education in Texas.
He became the first president of the Texas Educational Society and was a sponsor of a free public school system. Preacher and lawyer, the marker calls him, like it's the most natural combination in the world. And maybe in 1840s Texas, it was.
He preached the first sermon in Waco. He held the first court in Waco. The same man, the same town, the gospel and the gavel.
And then there's 1845. Under the Republic of Texas, Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor founded a university. He didn't just lend his name to it — he donated the first thousand dollars to the institution, served as president of the first board of trustees, and sat on the first law faculty as a professor.
The university's motto is Pro Ecclesia Pro Texana — for the church, for Texas. The marker says he exemplified that motto in his life. Looking at everything this man did, it's hard to argue the point.
The State of Texas erected this marker in 1936, with funds appropriated by the federal government, to commemorate one hundred years of Texas independence. One hundred years of a state that Baylor helped shape — in the courtroom, in the field, in the pulpit, and in the classroom. Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor. 1791 to 1873.
He gave Texas a university, a legal tradition, and the first sermon Waco ever heard. Not bad for one lifetime.
What the marker says
(Front) Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor 1791-1873. Founder of Baylor University under the Republic of Texas 1845, donor of the first thousand dollars to the institution; president of the first board of trustees. Professor in the first law faculty. He exemplified in his life the motto of Baylor University "Pro Ecclesia Pro Texana." (Right) CONSTRUCTIVE STATESMAN-JUDGE BAYLOR. Was a member of the Kentucky legislature, congressman from Kentucky, congressman from Alabama, United States Senator from Alabama. He served five years as associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Texas. Twenty years as district judge for the state courts. As commander of a company in the War of 1812 and as a soldier in the Creek and Indian war, Mexican War and the Texas-Indian War. (Left) RELIGIOUS LEADER-JUDGE BAYLOR. Organized the Union Association. The first Baptist organization in Texas. Presented the first report in behalf of Christian education in Texas. He was the first president of the Texas Educational Society, sponsor of a free public school system. Preacher and lawyer. He preached the first sermon and held the first court in Waco giving direction and destiny to Texas by upholding the law and proclaiming the Gospel. (Back) Erected by the state of Texas 1936 with funds appropriated by the federal government to commemorate one hundred years of Texas Independence.