Remembering Pioneers

John W. Alexander 1918-2002

John (known to many staff as “Dr. A.”), was President of InterVarsity from 1964 to 1981. Prior to that he was Chair of the Geography Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. John came to InterVarsity at a time of uncertainty about its future, and according to Keith and Gladys Hunt, authors of For Christ and the University, “John Alexander gave the movement what it needed most: stability. His character was his greatest strength and elicited the respect and admiration of the staff.”

He was committed to the Scriptures, and wrote Fire in My Bones, a guide to Scripture memory. Among the staff he was best known as the author of Managing Our Work, which stressed the importance of planning based on Purpose, Objectives, Goals and Standards (POGAS), but his booklet, Practical Criticism: Giving it and Taking it, has continued to have the widest impact.

John is survived by his wife, Betty, five children and their spouses: John and Vicky Alexander, Lynne and Phil Drake, Mary and Doug Whallon, and Doug and Alicia Alexander, Paulyn and Church, and 13 grandchildren. Memorial gifts are designated to the John W. Alexander Cedar Campus Student Scholarship Fund.

Alex Anderson 1954-2002

Alex Anderson directed InterVarsity’s Black Campus Ministries (BCM), working tirelessly to minister to both students and staff. He came on staff in 1976 to serve the students at Clark College in Atlanta, GA and then later worked with groups that formed at Morehouse, Morris Brown, West Georgia and Winthrop Colleges, Ft. Valley and Albany State Colleges and Alabama State University and Tuskegee University. Alex was known for not only helping students spiritually, but also academically. He dedicated himself to helping students succeed, on campus and off.

Alex carried significant organizational roles. He was to be a plenary speaker at National Staff Conference in January 2002, and was director of the BCM conference,“Atlanta 2002” scheduled for December. He had been on staff for almost 25 years.

Alex is survived by his wife, Felicia, a daughter, April, and four sons, Daniel, Micah, Emmanuel and Lemuel, as well as by his mother and seven siblings. Felicia continues on InterVarsity staff, with responsibilities as Program Director for “Atlanta 2002”