2022 Legacy Awards to honor lifelong Baptist leaders Charles Davenport and Jack Greever

On Sunday, June 5, Texas Baptists will present the 2022 Legacy Award to Charles Davenport, pastor and dedicated leader in Baptist denominational life, and Jack Greever, veteran Baptist Student Ministry (BSM) leader.

The Texas Baptist Legacy Award is presented annually at the Independence Baptist Church in Independence, Texas, in recognition of lifelong Christian service.

Charles Davenport

Davenport’s call to ministry came right after he graduated from college at West Texas State University, now West Texas A&M University. The BSM director on campus connected Davenport with a pastorate at Dawn Baptist Church where he first began preaching.

From there, Davenport pastored First Baptist Church in Streetman, while attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He then pastored several other churches including First Baptist Church in Claude, First Baptist Church in Tucumcari, NM, and First Baptist Church in Tulia where he remained for thirty-one years.

During the almost half a century Davenport spent in the local church, he had the privilege of being involved in the ministries of Texas Baptists in a variety of ways. He served on various committees as a member of the Texas Baptists Executive Board and also as First Vice President. In addition, he served on the board of trustees for High Plains Baptist Hospital in Amarillo and on the board of Wayland Baptist University.

After leaving the local church ministry, Davenport joined the staff of Texas Baptists as an area representative for Area 1, which is the Panhandle region. He retired in 2021 but continues to preach many Sundays of the month.

Davenport is married to his wife, Valoise. They have two sons, Kevin Wayne Davenport and Keith Alan Davenport; a daughter, Kristi Valoise Rackley; and five grandchildren.

Jack Greever

Greever grew up in McAllen, TX. He attended Edinburgh Regional College, now the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, for two years. During this time, he attended a youth-led revival and felt the call to ministry. From that point on, his education centered around ministering to college students.

Greever enrolled at Baylor University and completed a bachelor’s degree in Religion and a minor in Spanish. He then attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, completing his Master of Divinity.

After graduation, Greever first served as Baptist Student Minister for Southern Methodist University (SMU). He next served at East Texas State University, now Texas A&M University-Commerce. He expanded his sphere of influence by teaching Bible courses for college credit. He then followed the Lord’s call and moved to Texas Tech University, where he ministered for 10 years.

In 1968, Jack became associate director of the Division of Student Work for Texas Baptists, now the Center for Collegiate Ministry. He was later promoted to the position of State Director. He retired in 1996 and spent the next 10 years as an adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University. Greever also published several New Testament study guides and resource books.

Greever was married to his wife, Frankie, for 62 years before her passing in 2017. He has three children, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The Texas Baptists Legacy Awards will be presented during the Sunday morning worship service at 10 a.m. at Independence Baptist Church, with lunch to follow. To attend, please contact Becky Brown by May 27 at becky.brown[at]txb.org.