Anyone remember Rev. O. V. Dodson?

     Rev. O. V. Dodson was back at FBC, Nevada, recently for the memorial service for Rev. John Nichols.  He is 97 and still going strong.  He was my predecessor as pastor at FBC and served from 1955 to 1978.  I came on board in 1979.  While I was serving as pastor in the Bootheel of Missouri, my supervisor in Clinical Pastoral Education was Fred Schmucker.  When he found out the pastor preceding me was "O. V." Dodson and a familiar former pastor from the 40s was "J. Winston Pearce," he joked, "You can no longer be "Bill" Cox; you will have to be "W. C." Cox."  I later found out that "W.C." stands for water closet, or bathrooms in European countries!
     Anyway, the pastor of 23 years was one of the most gracious, Christian gentleman whom I have ever met. He has been nothing but an encourager to me in my role at FBC.  Not long after my coming to Nevada, he wrote me a note:  "Billl--  You are off to a good start.  Already hear glowing reports.  With appreciation I read you inciteful and challenging paragraphs in THE MAINSPRING.  You are on the beam!"  That was in 1979.
     There are several other notes and letters.  On March 21, 1988, when our church experienced conflict over whether to re-located to our present location, Rev. Dodson wrote:  "I note with deep interest the decsion of the church to build and the possibillity of relocating.  It sounds exciting and inspiring.  /  With a degree of reluctance, but with continuing deep love for First Baptist Church, Nevada, and an undying interest in her future, I am daring with prayerful consideration to share some thoughts from a perspective of the past. / Early in my pastorate at Nevada, during the fifties, I felt it would be wise for the church to move to a more spacious and conspicuous spot at the end of the community and build from scratch. /  However, it didn't take long to realize that sentimental attachments to the old location and its buildings would probablly make it virtually impossible to reach a harmonious consensus.  So, I abandoned the idea.  / I must admit I developed a degree of sentimental attachment to the old location and facilities over a period of twenty-four years.  And so it would distrub my emotions for the church no longer to be located on the corner of Main and Hunter.  But I am strongly convinced that sentiment should never stand in the way of progress of God's kingdom.  /   I commend the present generation of First Baptist Members for their forward look.  If, after careful and prayerful consideration it appears to be the part of wisdom and the will of the Lord that the church might make further growth and enjoy an extended ministry, it would appear to me that the sensible and spiritual thing would be to move.  /  Be asssured of our prayers here at our house regarding this matter."
     After the passing of former first lady of FBC, Elaine Dodson, Rev. Dodson re-married his former secretary, Janice Hartley, who also had lost her husband, John.  They have had many meaningful years together.  Rev. Dodson is truly a great but also a humble man.  He has told me that he enjoys the fact that churches have done better after he left!  After he left FBC, Cassville, MO, the church experienced a lot of growth under lead pastor, John Duncan.  After he left FBC, Nevada, our church has continued to make progress.  He knows the meaning of what the Apostle said, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.!  (I Corinthians 3:6)  He is not jealous. He is not envious. He is truly a man of God who shows us not only how to live the Christian life but how to serve in positions of leadership.
Pastor Cox