One of the Pine Belt’s most beloved Columbia residents, former William Carey University President Tommy King, died Nov. 22 surrounded by family at Forrest General’s Asbury Hospice Center.
King served as president of William Carey for more than 15 years and was beloved by all who knew him.
“Dr. King’s love for William Carey University was unmatched and his leadership took us to another level,” current William Carey President Ben Burnett said in a press release issued by the university. “His lifetime of service in the field of education, and with the Baptist churches of Mississippi, changed the lives of Mississippians for generations.
“His vision inspired all who were fortunate to work alongside him — and the impact he had on all of us is immeasurable. I count myself blessed to have worked directly under his leadership for the last 10 years of my career and I am humbled to follow in his footsteps as president of William Carey University.”
King was the first William Carey graduate to become president of the university and guided the private college to previously unseen heights. Under his leadership, William Carey established a 50-acre campus in Biloxi, grew the Hattiesburg campus from 135 acres to 170, opened The College of Osteopathic Medicine, began a doctorate program for physical therapy and opened several new buildings. Also during his tenure, the school’s enrollment doubled, and its sports programs tripled from six to 18.
After the university was struck by a devastating tornado in 2017, King led the rebuilding of the college.
Burnett, who met King in the late 1980s, said King was the reason he first joined the university’s administration as the Dean of Education.
“His love for the university was even more overpowering than his success,” he said during a phone interview. “He and his wife (Sandra) met at William Carey, and William Carey had such a huge place in his heart. He did such a good job of relaying that to everybody around him who worked here.”
Even up until his final weeks, despite his declining health, King continually reached out to Burnett to offer words of wisdom and advice.
“He was a great encourager. He wanted the university to still continue to be successful,” Burnett said. “I’m going to miss being able to reach out to him and go to him for guidance.”
In a 2019 interview, Ken Knopp, who served with King in the Columbia Lions Club, said King epitomized the strength of the generation that came before us — one that unwaveringly gives back to their hometown.
Brett Golson, WCU vice president of spiritual development, said King’s legacy and influence will be remembered for generations.
“With heavy hearts, we mourn the passing of our longtime leader and friend. Dr. Tommy King blessed us with his leadership as president of William Carey University and enriched our spiritual lives as a pastor and church statesman. His profound commitment to education and ministry has left an indelible mark on tens of thousands of students, parents, and the community of faith,” Golson said in the press release.
Visitation for King will be on Monday at First Baptist Church in Columbia from 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m.
