Freed-Hardeman Connections
Researching the Restoration Movement in Mississippi and West Tennessee
Carl Hugo
McCord
Hugo McCord was born in Benton County, Mississippi near Hickory Flat on June 24, 1911. He was baptized by L. L. Brigance.
Gospel Advocate, Sept. 12, 1940
He often spoke of himself as “just a cornfield preacher from Mississippi,” Friends and colleagues said he was much more.
Carl Hugo McCord, 92, died May 14, 2004, in Vancouver, Wash. Born in New Albany, Miss., McCord attended Freed-Hardeman College and received degrees from several schools, including a doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. But he preferred the title “Brother” instead of “Dr.”
He served churches in Illinois, Indiana, Washington, D.C., Texas, Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Louisiana. He taught Bible and biblical languages at Oklahoma Christian College from 1953-56 and 1960-1976 and was an adjunct professor until 1981. He authored nine books, including “The Disciples Prayer,” “From Heaven or from Men?” and “Messianic Prophecy.”
In 1988 he realized his dream of translating the New Testament from Greek to English, producing “McCord’s New Testament Translation of the Everlasting Gospel.” In the fourth edition, he added a translation from Hebrew of Genesis, Psalms and Proverbs.
McCord “was one of the great mentors in my life and the lives of countless others. He taught us all how to revere and follow scripture,” said Lynn McMillon, dean of the College of Biblical Studies at Oklahoma Christian University and a former colleague.
Survivors include a son, Charles McCord, and a daughter, Carolyn McCord.
Christian Chronicle
Brother McCord was cremated and his ashes are with his son.
The Editor's Page.....
David R. Pharr
We first received the news in the middle of the day on Friday, May 14. In the early evening an email came from his son, Charles McCord, giving more details. Our beloved brother and friend, Hugo McCord, had gone to be with the Lord.
For months, my father, Hugo McCord has said, "The best is yet to be". At 8:04 this morning Hugo went "to the best". He was 92 years old and had been suffering from lung problems and dizziness for several months. By his request, he was not hospitalized, but remained at home with LaVera and myself.
He had been failing for sometime. About 6 months ago he decided to stop writing, saying he could not remember his scripture references and did not want to make a mistake. When asked, "How he was", he would usually respond, "Not good, but this is the way the Lord wants me." He lived in our home for the last five years and La Vera gave him much tender love and care. She was assisted by his daughter, Carolyn, his granddaughter, Danielle, and, sometimes by his 3 ½ year old great granddaughter, Samantha. He was ever grateful and graceful. I cannot imagine anyone easier to care for.
A memorial service is planned for Thursday, May 27th, 3:00 PM at the building of the Eastside Church of Christ in Portland, Oregon. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that you remember him with gifts to: Freed-Hardeman University, Henderson, TN, or Columbia Christian Schools, 413 NE 91st, Portland, OR, 97220.
Less than two weeks before, I had received a brief note from brother McCord. He had not sent any articles for several months, but occasionally would mail a previously published tract, which he suggested we might want to put into The Carolina Messenger. He had often commended our paper and always had kind words of encouragement for me. He explained that he had stopped writing because of failing memory. His note also said that he did not know why the Lord was keeping him here, but was sure the Lord knew what was best. He was a firm believer in the providence of God.
I had heard brother McCord at the Carolina Lectures in Charleston, SC, many years ago and had heard him lecture at Freed-Hardeman University. It was at the Words of Truth Lectures in memory of Gus Nichols that I first had opportunity to sit down with him. He and Franklin Camp had become good friends and brother Camp's friendship and interest in me contributed to a similar friendship between brother McCord and myself. While I was with E. Tennessee School of Preaching brother McCord was on our lectureship. That was one of the last, if not the last, lectureships in which he participated in the eastern part of the country.
Those of us who have copies of his lectures in book form in These Things Speak and Fifty Years of Lectures treasure them greatly. (I assume they are no longer available.) I regret that we do not have a complete list of his works (at least 13 books), but doubtless the best known is his translation of the New Testament out of the original Greek, published by Freed-Hardeman University. (In that last note I received from him he mentioned the good things FHU (FHC) had meant to his own life and how much he loved the school.)
He was a careful and honest scholar. On occasion he sent out email messages correcting himself on some point that may not have concerned most of us, but in which he wanted to be as correct as possible. Political correctness was not his concern, but even in controversy he was always a gentleman.
Though for many years a professor of Bible and Biblical Languages at Oklahoma Christian University, he was frank in expressing his disappointment over the compromise he found in their news publication, The Christian Chronicle.
But that did not mean that he followed the party line of the radical right. Whatever the issue, he wanted to be honest and right. For example, with all the angst over the NIV translation of Psalm 51:5, he was bold to affirm what should be its literal translation from the Hebrew. Again, whether we agree with his position or not, we have to admire his bold integrity in how he rendered the Greek for "only begotten" as "unique one."
The following email came from Wayne Jackson:
This Christian gentleman was truly one of God's great men of this age. His scholarship blessed thousands. His gentle demeanor, even when dealing with a disagreement, was refreshing indeed in a climate frequently charged with hostility. His influence in my life is beyond my ability to express adequately. Heaven is richer, we are poorer, for his passing. But we sorrow not as those who have no hope of sweet reunions. Hardeman Nichols and I were once sharing observations about brother McCord and Hardeman observed that one could never write the last letter to Hugo McCord. He would always have something to write in reply. Such was his practice of kindness and encouragement. I treasure having gotten his handwritten note just a few days before he died. I did not reply. Yes, Hardeman, he got in the last letter! Earl I. West chronicled the life story of Hugo McCord in a biography entitled, The Enchanted Knight. Included is an Appendix with 19 articles on various subjects. (Germantown, TN: Religious Book Service, 1999).
Hugo McCord was born in Benton County, Mississippi near Hickory Flat on June 24, 1911. He was baptized by L. L. Brigance.
Gospel Advocate, Sept. 12, 1940
He often spoke of himself as “just a cornfield preacher from Mississippi,” Friends and colleagues said he was much more.
Carl Hugo McCord, 92, died May 14, 2004, in Vancouver, Wash. Born in New Albany, Miss., McCord attended Freed-Hardeman College and received degrees from several schools, including a doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. But he preferred the title “Brother” instead of “Dr.”
He served churches in Illinois, Indiana, Washington, D.C., Texas, Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Louisiana. He taught Bible and biblical languages at Oklahoma Christian College from 1953-56 and 1960-1976 and was an adjunct professor until 1981. He authored nine books, including “The Disciples Prayer,” “From Heaven or from Men?” and “Messianic Prophecy.”
In 1988 he realized his dream of translating the New Testament from Greek to English, producing “McCord’s New Testament Translation of the Everlasting Gospel.” In the fourth edition, he added a translation from Hebrew of Genesis, Psalms and Proverbs.
McCord “was one of the great mentors in my life and the lives of countless others. He taught us all how to revere and follow scripture,” said Lynn McMillon, dean of the College of Biblical Studies at Oklahoma Christian University and a former colleague.
Survivors include a son, Charles McCord, and a daughter, Carolyn McCord.
Christian Chronicle
Brother McCord was cremated and his ashes are with his son.
The Editor's Page.....
David R. Pharr
We first received the news in the middle of the day on Friday, May 14. In the early evening an email came from his son, Charles McCord, giving more details. Our beloved brother and friend, Hugo McCord, had gone to be with the Lord.
For months, my father, Hugo McCord has said, "The best is yet to be". At 8:04 this morning Hugo went "to the best". He was 92 years old and had been suffering from lung problems and dizziness for several months. By his request, he was not hospitalized, but remained at home with LaVera and myself.
He had been failing for sometime. About 6 months ago he decided to stop writing, saying he could not remember his scripture references and did not want to make a mistake. When asked, "How he was", he would usually respond, "Not good, but this is the way the Lord wants me." He lived in our home for the last five years and La Vera gave him much tender love and care. She was assisted by his daughter, Carolyn, his granddaughter, Danielle, and, sometimes by his 3 ½ year old great granddaughter, Samantha. He was ever grateful and graceful. I cannot imagine anyone easier to care for.
A memorial service is planned for Thursday, May 27th, 3:00 PM at the building of the Eastside Church of Christ in Portland, Oregon. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that you remember him with gifts to: Freed-Hardeman University, Henderson, TN, or Columbia Christian Schools, 413 NE 91st, Portland, OR, 97220.
Less than two weeks before, I had received a brief note from brother McCord. He had not sent any articles for several months, but occasionally would mail a previously published tract, which he suggested we might want to put into The Carolina Messenger. He had often commended our paper and always had kind words of encouragement for me. He explained that he had stopped writing because of failing memory. His note also said that he did not know why the Lord was keeping him here, but was sure the Lord knew what was best. He was a firm believer in the providence of God.
I had heard brother McCord at the Carolina Lectures in Charleston, SC, many years ago and had heard him lecture at Freed-Hardeman University. It was at the Words of Truth Lectures in memory of Gus Nichols that I first had opportunity to sit down with him. He and Franklin Camp had become good friends and brother Camp's friendship and interest in me contributed to a similar friendship between brother McCord and myself. While I was with E. Tennessee School of Preaching brother McCord was on our lectureship. That was one of the last, if not the last, lectureships in which he participated in the eastern part of the country.
Those of us who have copies of his lectures in book form in These Things Speak and Fifty Years of Lectures treasure them greatly. (I assume they are no longer available.) I regret that we do not have a complete list of his works (at least 13 books), but doubtless the best known is his translation of the New Testament out of the original Greek, published by Freed-Hardeman University. (In that last note I received from him he mentioned the good things FHU (FHC) had meant to his own life and how much he loved the school.)
He was a careful and honest scholar. On occasion he sent out email messages correcting himself on some point that may not have concerned most of us, but in which he wanted to be as correct as possible. Political correctness was not his concern, but even in controversy he was always a gentleman.
Though for many years a professor of Bible and Biblical Languages at Oklahoma Christian University, he was frank in expressing his disappointment over the compromise he found in their news publication, The Christian Chronicle.
But that did not mean that he followed the party line of the radical right. Whatever the issue, he wanted to be honest and right. For example, with all the angst over the NIV translation of Psalm 51:5, he was bold to affirm what should be its literal translation from the Hebrew. Again, whether we agree with his position or not, we have to admire his bold integrity in how he rendered the Greek for "only begotten" as "unique one."
The following email came from Wayne Jackson:
This Christian gentleman was truly one of God's great men of this age. His scholarship blessed thousands. His gentle demeanor, even when dealing with a disagreement, was refreshing indeed in a climate frequently charged with hostility. His influence in my life is beyond my ability to express adequately. Heaven is richer, we are poorer, for his passing. But we sorrow not as those who have no hope of sweet reunions. Hardeman Nichols and I were once sharing observations about brother McCord and Hardeman observed that one could never write the last letter to Hugo McCord. He would always have something to write in reply. Such was his practice of kindness and encouragement. I treasure having gotten his handwritten note just a few days before he died. I did not reply. Yes, Hardeman, he got in the last letter! Earl I. West chronicled the life story of Hugo McCord in a biography entitled, The Enchanted Knight. Included is an Appendix with 19 articles on various subjects. (Germantown, TN: Religious Book Service, 1999).