In 1945, the first rumblings in the Church of God (Anderson, IN) of a desire for a college in the southern United States began. The idea took many years to get off of the ground, but in 1962, the Southern Convention of the Church of God officially formed the Southern Commission on Higher Education in order to make more progress on the idea. This Commission would answer directly to the national Commission on Christian Higher Education in the Church of God. Leslie Ratzlaff led the way forward, presenting a clear vision for a four-year, liberal arts, Christian college “in the South, that understands the South, and that supplied Christian Leadership for the church in the South.” Part of his vision was to serve the Caribbean and Latin America with this college.
In just two short years, this vision would start coming to fruition, as a property of 350 acres in Lake Wales, FL was donated to the Commission in 1964. A successful majority vote meant that the southern Church of God school officially had its home in Lake Wales. Some may find it entertaining that Malcolm Rigel and Leroy Fulton, both of whom have buildings named after them on campus today, voted no against accepting the Lake Wales property! In 1965, the newly formed board of trustees brought updates to the national Commission on Christian Higher Education about their plans–notably just updating on what was already happening, not actually asking for permission. The national Commission expressed doubts, but progress continued. In 1967 the college was officially set to be named Warner Southern College, named after the pioneer of the Church of God movement, Daniel Sydney Warner. Shortly afterward in 1968, the first classes would begin, with a freshman class of 27 students.
Leslie Ratzlaff was the first academic dean and was so eager to secure Warner’s reputation that in 1969 he contacted the accrediting body SACS (now SACSCOC) to begin the accreditation process. That accreditation would be granted in 1977, less than ten years after the school’s opening–no small feat! Also in 1969, Leroy Fulton was named the first president of Warner, though, humble man that he was, he initially did not want the position. The combined leadership of Fulton and Ratzlaff helped Warner grow. The first graduating class in 1972 had 4 bachelor’s degrees awarded. That may seem small, but by 1974 the college had 187 students enrolled, and in 1987 50 bachelor’s degrees were awarded at graduation. Around 1986, Warner moved from its location on the east side of Highway 27 over to the west side, its current home.
The year 1991 brought the election of Warner’s second president, Gregory Hall. Under his leadership, Warner Southern College was officially named a national agency school by the Church of God’s General Assembly in 1997. This meant that Warner was not just a school that affiliated itself with the Church of God, it was an official partner in the movement, receiving support from the General Assembly. By 2006, Warner had 1035 students enrolled. Due to large growth and a widening scope, Warner Southern College officially changed its name to Warner University in 2008. The Darby Academic Building opened its doors in 2014. In 2016, David Hoag was named the third president of Warner University.
Warner University has only continued to see growth. Under Dr. Hoag’s leadership, we saw the completion of Holland Hall, the Swindle Agricultural Complex, the Tye Athletic Center, a new baseball stadium and the Tye Athletic Field. Since 2020, we have seen enrollment numbers increase every year. As we search for our fourth president and continue to grow rapidly, we look forward to what God has in store for the future of Warner University, through faith and faithfulness.
The primary source for this article is Enriching Mind and Spirit: A History of Higher Education in the Church of God (Anderson) by Barry L. Callen (Anderson, Anderson University Press, 2007).
