Dr. Ely Vaughn Zollars, President 1907-1916
Founder of Phillips University
Born Sept. 19, 1847, near Marietta, OH
Died Feb. 10, 1916, Warren, OH
Parents: Abram Zollars and Caroline Vaughn Zollars
Married: Hulda Louise McAtee, October 26, 1865
Ely Vaughn Zollars, an energetic and devout educator of the Disciples of Christ, envisioned an enormous opportunity to establish a Bible college in Oklahoma and Indian Territories in February 19065 while contemplating his resignation as President of Texas Christian University, Waco. His close friend, TCU Professor Frank Hamilton Marshall, recalled Zollar’s enthusiasm about the growing number of Disciples of Christ congregations sorely in need of preachers on the sprawling plains.
“I am going to start an entirely new school for the Brotherhood, and Oklahoma will be the place!” On that day, in that hour, in that moment, Phillips University was conceived.6
Zollars went to Blackwell, Oklahoma to deliver a speech titled “Christian Education” to the Ministerial Institute of Oklahoma.7 Members of the two Christian Missionary Societies of Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory were so moved by Zollars’ passion and so eager for the school that they unanimously passed a resolution to organize the university with Zollars as President.
Dr. Zollars solicited the financial help of his long-time friend the Honorable Thomas W. Phillips, Sr., of New Castle, Pennsylvania, a prominent oilman, leader, and philanthropist of the Christian Church.8 Phillips agreed to pay his salary for one year to determine the feasibility of the school and secure interest for potential locations.
At a joint meeting of the two Societies in September 1906, E.V. Zollars was officially invited to become the president of the school.9
With his tremendous energy, keen foresight, unquestioned character, and command of men and resources, results were sure to follow. On his part it was wholly a venture of faith and prayer. He believed that he was being guided by the Spirit of God, and with that firm conviction the word “failure” was not in his vocabulary.10
The search immediately began for a location, with Enid offering and subsequently winning with the largest bid.11 October 9, 1906 the charter establishing Oklahoma Christian University was approved.12 Zollars worked tirelessly to hire faculty members and obtain financial funding for the new university.
Classes began on September 17, 1907, the fourteenth anniversary of the run of the Cherokee Strip.13 Zollars was about to turn 60 years old and suffering terribly from diabetes, though his spirit was strong. His vision of building a Bible College had become a reality.
Zollars leadership skills were borne from his faith as shown in his fourth book published in 1907 titled Hebrew Prophecy.14
The necessity for great leaders is attested by the universal experience of mankind . . .
Somebody must go before who has a clearer vision than the great mass of mankind . . .
God has always raised up such men, who have served as pioneers, to whom mankind is indebted for its advancement, and without whom progress would have been impossible.
It was this leadership that kept the fledgling university open during the depression of 1907, when faculty members volunteered to teach without a salary.15
Zollars’ leadership in the classroom inspired ministerial students. The commanding and masterful pulpiteer taught techniques for preparing and delivering sermons. Ministerial students were soon manning the pulpits of dozens of grateful Disciples of Christ churches in the area. He also shared his vast knowledge of theology and savored his favorite subject of all logic.16 Students affectionately referred to him as Pa-Z.17
Thomas W. Phillips, Sr. had paid Zollars’ salary for four years and been a great supporter.18 Upon Phillips’ death in July 1912, Zollars petitioned the board of trustees to change the college’s name. In 1913, the name Phillips Christian University would honor T.W. Phillips’ generous bequest and long-standing support and his family’s ongoing commitment to the university’s ideals.19
One of Zollars’ proudest accomplishments was the establishment of the Board of Education of the Disciples of Christ, an action taken with his colleagues from the Association of Colleges on September 1914.20 21
On March 4, 1915, President Zollars’ frail health finally led him to tendering his resignation from his beloved Phillips Christian University; he was immediately named President Emeritus. The university’s founder signed diplomas for the final time for the 1915 graduating class and returned with his wife of 49 years, Hulda Louise (McAtee), to Warren, OH.22
In September 1915 at the onset of the university’s ninth session, Zollars’ penned one last inspirational letter to the student body:
“…There is no great success without battle and conflict. An easy life spells failure. It is only those who fight that win the prize; only those who run with diligence that win the crown…
I look with longing eyes toward Phillips University. The young life gathered there is precious to my heart. May the Lord’s richest blessing abide upon you and may his guiding hand lead you into ever increasing measure of success and power.”23
E.V. Zollars passed away February 10, 191624 and was remembered at a memorial service February 18th by Phillips University Chancellor Roth:
“The institution will stand as a lasting monument to his farseeing vision, to his indomitable will, to his enduring strength, and to his profound faith.”25
Four months later, on June 21, 1916, Oklahoma’s first church college, Phillips University, was accredited by the State Board of Education.26 Zollars’ had truly become as his biographer Dr. Ronald E. Osborn so aptly named him, the “Teacher of Preachers. Builder of Colleges”.27