Background
Gross, John Owen was born on July 9, 1894 in Grant County, Kentucky, United States. Son of William and Anna (Chrisman) Gross.
Gross, John Owen was born on July 9, 1894 in Grant County, Kentucky, United States. Son of William and Anna (Chrisman) Gross.
AB, Asbury College, Wilmore, Kentucky, 1918. Doctor of Divinity, Asbury College, 1930. Postgraduate, Lane Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1919.
STB, Boston University, 1921. Graduate student, University Cincinnati, University Kentucky, 1929. Doctor of Humane Letters, Union College, 1938.
Doctor of Humane Letters, Mount Union College, 1946. Doctor of Humane Letters, DePauw University, 1952. Doctor of Humane Letters, Cornell College, 1953.
Doctor of Humane Letters, Lycoming College, 1964. Doctor of Laws, West Virginia Wesleyan College, 1946. Doctor of Laws, Kentucky Wesleyan College, 1949.
Doctor of Laws, University Chattanooga, 1950. Doctor of Laws, Iowa Wesleyan College, 1955. Doctor of Laws, Wiley College, 1956.
Doctor of Laws, Ohio Wesleyan College, 1959. Doctor of Laws, Hendrix College, 1964. Doctor of Laws, Syracuse University, 1964.
STD, Boston University, 1949. DScEd., Morningside College, 1950. Doctor of Letters, Florida Southern College, 1947.
Juris Utriusque Doctor, Simpson College, 1954. Doctor of Divinity, Ohio Northern, 1958. Doctor of Divinity, Clark College, 1959.
Doctor of Divinity, McKendree College, 1963. Doctor of Divinity, Emory University, 1964. DRE, Southwestern College, 1960.
DRE, University of the Pacific, 1962. HHD, Bethune Cookman College, 1962.
Entered ministry, Methodist Episcopal Church, 1916;
ordained deacon, Methodist Episcopal Church, 1918;
elder, Methodist Episcopal Church, 1921;
pastor, First Methodist Episcopal Church, Barbourville, Kentucky, 1921-1925;
district superintendent, Barbourville District, Kentucky Conference of Methodist Episcopal Church Church, 1925-1929;
president, Union College, Barbourville, 1929-1938;
president, Simpson College, Iowa., 1938-1941;
secretary, Department Ednl. Institutions, Board of Education, Methodist Church, 1941-1948;
general secretary, Division Higher Education, Board of Education, Methodist Church, from 1948. Member various Methodist ecumenical and jurisdictional conferences, from 1931.
Alexander Gustavus Brown lecturer Randolph Macon College, 1950. Willson lecturer McMurry College, 1958. Member Executive Committee World Methodist Council.
Trustee Dillard University, Rust College, Huston-Tillotson College, American University, Meharry College, Clark College, Bethune-Cookman College, Scarritt College, West Virginia Wesleyan College. Ex-officio board member Bennett. Member Association Colleges and Universities of Kentucky, Upper Comberland Educational Association, Association American Colleges, Lambda Chi, Alpha Epsilon Sigma, Phi Kappa Delta, Phi Beta Kappa, Mason, Old Oak Club.
Married Harriet Bletzer, June 30, 1920. Children: George Albert, John Birney, Harriet Lucille Gross Smith.