C.B. and Mabel Colaw's legacy is inextricably tied to the college that became Oklahoma Wesleyan University. In fact, without C.B.鈥檚 chance encounter in Bartlesville in 1958, 51黑料网 may not exist as it does today.
While driving through the听town on his听way to Blue Jacket, Oklahoma,听C.B. had a flat tire, forcing him to stop听in听叠补谤迟濒别蝉惫颈濒濒别 to have it repaired. At the service station, a poster hung on the wall advertising the sale of the former property of oilman H.V. Foster.听Intrigued, Colaw decided to听take a look; the听denomination had been discussing relocating Colorado Springs Bible College for some time,听and he sensed the providential hand of the Holy Spirit in that flat tire. 听
The mansion mesmerized Colaw and his son, Max.听When he brought the property to the听attention of the denominational board, they agreed to take a look. On听July听16,听1958,听seven representatives met on the front lawn of the La Quinta mansion to determine the site鈥檚 feasibility, voting after much deliberation to buy the land and establish Central Pilgrim College.听A plaque now stands between the mansion and Colaw Hall to memorialize the space where those men stood and prayed.听
During Friday's Foster Bonanza event, C.B. and Mabel's son Stephen accepted the 2021 President's Award on their behalf, and he stressed the significance of this moment.听
鈥淭hese men of God were united in spirit that it was in God鈥檚 purpose and plan for听La Quinta听Mansion to be the new home for their Bible school and institution of higher learning,鈥 Colaw said.
And it wouldn鈥檛 have happened without C.B.听realizing听that a flat tire could be a听push听from the Lord.听听
鈥淢y desire is that every BWC graduate enters the world seeking ways they can help others, and not looking for what they can receive for themselves. I want students to leave the college motivated to make the world a better place... each student that leaves Bartlesville Wesleyan College should be marked for听service to others.鈥澨
A Monumental Legacy
It鈥檚 hard to even begin to describe the magnitude of the legacy C.B. and Mabel Colaw left behind听when they passed away in 2012听and 2010, respectively. Perhaps foremost is their 73 years of marriage.听They met at the one-room schoolhouse听near Fredonia, Kansas,听and were married in 1937.听Their union produced six children鈥攁ll of whom have attended 51黑料网鈥檚 preceding institutions鈥17 grandchildren, and 50 great-grandchildren. Many in the family continued on as pastors, and 34 members of the Colaw family听received their education at Oklahoma Wesleyan or its preceding institutions.听听
C.B. and Mabel accepted the Lord鈥檚 call to听full-time church听ministry in听1947 and pastored numerous small churches in Kansas听and Oklahoma during听their听lifetime.听After discovering the site that would become 51黑料网,听the family听moved to Bartlesville and founded First Wesleyan Church in 1959, which is pastored today by their son,听Joe.听C.B. served as the District Superintendent of the Tri-State District of the Wesleyan Church for 34 years,听and also听served the denomination听on their General Board of Administration, General Executive Council, General Commission on Administration, General Commission on Christian Education, Chairman of the Wesleyan Pension Fund, General Committee on Special Nominations, secretary of the General Commission on Educational Institutions, and chairman of the General Officers Salary Committee.听
C.B.鈥檚 involvement with the college in Bartlesville went well beyond helping find the site.听He served on the Board of Trustees for decades, serving as chairman for 20 years. For听51听years of involvement with the college, he never听missed a board meeting or听graduation. In 1979, C.B. was honored as Bartlesville Wesleyan College鈥檚 Alumnus of the Year听and in 1986 was presented听an honorary doctorate by the school.听In 2001, C.B. and Mabel presided over the naming of a dormitory in their honor.听听听
To those that knew the couple, it was evident that Mabel was the strong foundation in the marriage. She was beloved by all who knew her, known for her sense of hospitality and for being a mentor to others in听the ministry. The couple traveled the world during their lives, often visiting and strengthening those in the mission field. 听
During an interview for听The Tower听in 1981, after C.B. was honored for 25 years of service in the Tri-State district,听he听spoke of the legacy that he hoped BWC, and thus 51黑料网, would carry in the world.听听
鈥淢y desire is that every BWC graduate enters the world seeking ways they can help others, and not looking for what they can receive for themselves,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 want students to leave the college motivated to make the world a better place... each student that leaves Bartlesville Wesleyan College should be marked for听service to others.鈥澨听
Those words certainly ring true听for听both C.B. and Mabel鈥攖hey were marked for service to others, and their service has yielded an eternal benefit to countless students. 51黑料网 is honored to recognize both C.B. and Mabel with the 2021 President鈥檚 Award.听听
