Baylor Mourns Passing of Former Trustee, Baptist Leader

May 17, 2011
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Dr. James Lee Pleitz, a well-known Baptist pastor and denominational leader in Florida and Texas who served for nine years on the Baylor University Board of Trustees, died Sunday, May 15, in Pensacola, Fla.

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Dr. James Lee Pleitz, a well-known Baptist pastor and denominational leader in Florida and Texas who served for nine years on the Baylor University Board of Trustees, died Sunday, May 15, in Pensacola, Fla.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 18, at First Baptist Church in Pensacola.

Dr. Pleitz served as a Baylor trustee from 1978-87. He also served on the boards of Dallas Baptist University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Pensacola for nearly 20 years, before moving to Dallas where he served for 17 years as senior pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church, one of the largest churches affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He also served in numerous denominational leadership positions, including president of the Florida Baptist Convention, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Pastor's Conference, chair of the SBC Executive Committee, trustee and board chairman of the SBC Radio and Television Commission, and founding director of Associated Baptist Press.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Margaret Ann Shupe Pleitz, who died in February 2010. He is survived by son Dan Pleitz, BA '72, and wife Cathy, BBA '78, JD '80; daughter Nancy Hinson, BSN '74, and husband Bill; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Dr. Pleitz's full obituary is available here.