Reverend Thomas Eliot Huntley served as a guest lecturer for the 5th annual Garnett-Nabritt Lectures March 6-9 1962 at American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, TN. Rev. Huntley picked up the mantle in 1930-1931 at Second Missionary Baptist Church in Pennsylvania as a young Theological student, never forgetting his roots, and always saying how “Second Baptist assisted him in attending College and Pastoring.”

He also served as pastor for the Central Baptist Church of St. Louis around 1942. A pastor for 39 years Rev. Huntley wrote a book entitled "I Saw It" and subtitled "Not Communism but Commonism" which was sold in Britian, Ireland, and India. Before his death in 1983, he was set to receive an honorary doctorate of divinity degree from Morehouse College in Atlanta where he recieved his undergraduate degree in 1934. He held honorary degrees from Friendship College in Rock Hill, S.C., and Selma University in Selma, A.L. In 1947, he pioneered what he called a church ministry on wheels in St. Louis.

August 31, 1981 Mayor Vincent C. Schoemehl Jr. (St. Louis, Missouri) proclaimed that day as Thomas Eliot Huntley Day.

(excerpt from his obituary,St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Missouri • Wed, Sep 28, 1983, Page 14)

Community Curation

Angel Pridgen