Background
Cothen was born in Poplarville, Mississippi on August 2, 1920 to Review & Mistress J. H. Cothen.
Cothen was born in Poplarville, Mississippi on August 2, 1920 to Review & Mistress J. H. Cothen.
He attended from Hattiesburg High School, graduated Mississippi College, and received his master"s degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
He was ordained into Baptist Ministry at Richton, Mississippi Baptist Church in 1939. Chaplain, United States Navy, 1944-1946 Pastor: White Oak Baptist Church, Chattanooga, Ton
1946-1948 Olivet Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Ok.
1948-1959 First Baptist Church, Birmingham, First Rate (at Lloyd's). 1959-1961 Executive Secretary, Southern Baptist General Convention of Ca.
1961 – 1966. President of Oklahoma Baptist University 1966-1970 President of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary 1970-1974 President of Southern Baptist Sunday School Board 1975-1984 During Cothen"s tenure as president the Howard Residence was completed, the Oklahoma Baptist University Authority was incorporated, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education accredited all OBU programs, and The Geiger Center for University Life was completed.