Roy J. Fish, Southwestern Seminary distinguished professor emeritus of evangelism, died Sept. 10 at age 82.
Many Southern Baptists considered Fish’s name synonymous with “evangelism,” a fitting remembrance for the man who served Southwestern for nearly 50 years and once occupied the L.R. Scarborough Chair of Evangelism.
FishAs Southwestern Seminary president Paige Patterson put it, “Dr. Roy Fish was at once [both] a fabulous lecturer and the most consistent soul-winner I know. He lit a fire under thousands of students.”
Fish organized for many years the annual Spring Break Revival Practicum, now called Revive This Nation, as the seminary sent out hundreds of student preachers across the United States to preach revivals in local churches.
He held several prominent denominational positions, including second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention and interim president of the North American Mission Board. NAMB president Kevin Ezell, who studied under Fish at Southwestern, described him as a personal soul-winner with a contagious passion for the gospel.
Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, called Fish a hero. “Having known him for over 30 years, I can truly say he is one of the greatest men I ever knew. Never did I see him or speak to him that he was not a positive encouragement to me,” Page said.
In 2005, Southwestern reorganized its division of evangelism and missions in the school of theology and named it the Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions. The seminary later designated Oct. 10, 2007, as “Roy Fish Day,” honoring Fish during a special chapel service and reception.