Wilbur Williams Just Keeps on Keeping On

When you add his years as a student to his years as a teacher, Wilbur Glenn Williams has been a part of Indiana Wesleyan University for more than half of the institution’s 89-year history.

Williams celebrated his 80th birthday anniversary on August 28. Eleven days later, he reported to the classroom to begin his 43rd year as an Associate Professor of Biblical Literature and Archaeology.

Williams still teaches full time. Four classes of Old Testament survey each semester. Sixty students in each class, most of them freshmen. A total of 240 students a semester. Almost 500 students a year.

Williams’ workload would tax someone half his age.

"All of my classes are closed for the fall semester," Williams said a few days before classes began. "But as long as there are empty seats in the room, my classes always are open."

As he has done in recent years, Williams was dressed as Indiana Jones when he greeted students on the first day of class. It is his way of letting students know that being in a Wilbur Williams class always is an adventure.

Williams truly has a gift for bringing Old Testament history alive.

He recently completed his 142nd trip to Israel, so he’s visited most of the places that he talks about in his Old Testament classes. He also teaches a few classes each semester dressed as Old Testament figures, such as Abraham and Jeremiah.

"The older I get, the more believable I am as an Old Testament prophet," Williams said.

Students have chosen Williams as professor of the year a record seven times, which puts him in the ranks of IWU legends. In addition to his energy as a teacher, he has an abundance of stamina outside the classroom.

After teaching all week, it’s not uncommon for Williams to travel about the country speaking at churches on weekends. And he occasionally teaches a Sunday school class at College Wesleyan Church.

Recently, Williams was a few minutes late for an appointment at WIWU-TV studios because he was roofing a house – on a day when it was almost 90 degrees!

"I have always seen Wilbur as a gift to the faculty and students alike," said Dr. David Smith, Associate Dean of the School of Theology and Ministry. "He is the epitome of faithfulness to the Word plus he serves as a living embodiment of his endless supply of 'life lessons.'

"But to me the greatest joy I have is walking by Wilbur’s office and watching as a student attentively leans in close to hear Wilbur share from his life. Wilbur has never been more valuable to our students than he is today," Smith said.