Paul A. Collyer, 1936
B.A., Denison University
M.Div., Colgate Rochester Divinity School
Citation awarded June, 1986
Paul Collyer graduated from Denison in 1936 and from Colgate Rochester Divinity School in 1940. He did further graduate work at the College of Chinese Studies in Peking, China, and Baguio, Philippines, (1940-41) and the School of Theology, Boston University (1961). He was ordained in 1938.
During his language studies in the Philippines he was taken prisoner and held until his release by American troops in 1945. Following his repatriation, he did mission education and post-war fundraising for American Baptist churches in New York and New England.
In 1948, Paul became the general secretary for overseas administration of the American Bible Society, involving extensive travel to Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa to direct the distribution and use of Christian scriptures in approximately 400 languages.
In 1959, Paul was appointed executive minister of the Council of Churches of Buffalo and Erie County, New York, and held other civic posts.
In 1962, he returned to the far East as executive director of Church World Service in Taiwan. During his three-year commitment, he began a program of development and land reclamation, construction of irrigation systems, and established an agricultural training academy for aborigine mountain residents among numerous other projects.
In 1968, Paul joined the firm of Marts & Lundy, Inc., where he directed fundraising campaigns for church seminaries and church related schools and colleges. He retired from the firm in 1976. Since retirement he has continued his many activities as a pastor, fundraiser, and counselor to the elderly.
