Dr. William R. Myers, Sr., age 89, a resident of Windsor Park in Carol Stream, IL and formerly of Elmhurst, IL, and Chicago, IL, died Saturday, January 9, 2016, at home. He was born February 1, 1926 in Council Bluffs, IA.

William "Bill" served in the Navy during World War II. After the war he earned the following degrees: a B.A. in 1951 from the University of Cincinnati, a B.D. in 1954 from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a D.D. in 1964 from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, an L.H.D. in 1966 from Sioux Empire College, in Hawarden, IA, and an Ed.D. (Honorary) in 1977 from Judson College, in Elgin, IL.

Dr. Myers served as a Pastor at a number of Baptist churches including, Maineville Baptist Church in Maineville, OH, Ridgeview Baptist Church in Danville, IL, and Irving Park Baptist Church and North Shore Baptist Church in the Chicago area. He retired as President of Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1988 after serving the seminary for 13 years.

He also enjoyed teaching and was an instructor at a number of institutions over the years including the Nurses Training Program at Our Lady of Peace Hospital, Louisville, KY, the Danville School of Religion at the Ecumenical Church Association, the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (Undergraduate Program), the Baptist Missionary Training School in Chicago, IL, the School of Nursing at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL, and the Summer Institute For Theological Education, Ruschlikon, Switzerland.

He served at a number of positions within the American Baptist denomination, both regionally and nationally, including as President of the Chicago Baptist Ministers Council, served on the Board of International Ministries, on the Board of Directors of the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board, as Chairman of the American Baptist Seminary Administrators, as a speaker on the National Layman's Hour for the American Baptist Men, and as the Chairman of the 1971 Greater Chicago Billy Graham Crusade.

Over the years Dr. Myers received numerous awards and other honors including being named the Charles W. Koller Professor of Preaching at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1985, he was recognized for being the first ABC/USA graduate to receive the "Alumnus-of-the-Year" award from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, he received the John Mason Peck Award "Pastor of the Year" citation from the Chicago Baptist Association, the American Baptist National Recognition Award for North Shore Baptist
Church's first place per capita and total mission giving in the ABC/USA for seven consecutive years, the Good Shepherd Award from the Baptist Association of BOY Scouts, USA, and in 1987 was recognized by his peers as "one of the most effective seminary presidents in the USA and Canada.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Geraldyne Myers; four children, Christine (Rich Muniz) Myers Muniz of Rockford, IL, William Richard Myers, Jr. of Cincinnati, OH, Beth (Mark House) Myers House of Wintergreen, VA, and Bruce (Gina) Myers of Bloomington, IN; and ten grandchildren, Nathan Richard Kendall, Courtney Anna Kendall, Matthew Muniz, Sarah Lapinel Muniz, Amie Elisabeth Stewart, Benjamin Alexander House, Kyle WILLIAM House, Brianna Michelle Myers, Brett Philip Myers and Brady WILLIAM Myers.

A visitation will be held Saturday, January 16, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Oak Park , 820 Ontario Street, in Oak Park, IL. A funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m. at church. Interment will be private at Wheaton Cemetery in Wheaton, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Northern Seminary , 660 East Butterfield Road, Lombard, IL 60148. Please designate to "Myers Chair" or "Myers Scholarship." Donations can be accepted online at: http://www.seminary.edu/connect/donate/