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MAGNOLIA BOYS’ TOWN

LAUREL, MISSISSIPPI U.S.A.

HELPING BOYS IS OUR BUSINESS

OUR FOUNDER / DIRECTOR

Henry Bucklew, the son of an uneducated sawmill hand and tenant farmer, the fourth of eight children, was born April 10, 1925, in a Campcar in the sawmill town of Maxie in Forrest County, Mississippi. They later moved to Sumrall in Lamar County, Mississippi and at the age of two, again moved near Seminary in Covington County, Mississippi, where, in the sawbriars, and sandy new grounds of Okotona swamps and the red clay chinquapin hills, he grew up, knowing the extreme poverty of farm life.

Dr. Bucklew was educated at Seminary High School; attended Jones County Junior College, Texas State Teachers College and Jackson School of Law. He holds two honorary doctor's degrees: Doctor of Divinity and Doctor of Literature.

Dr. Bucklew was an ordained Southern Baptist Minister and Evangelist, Moose, Mason, Shriner, former Chaplain of Hamasa Shrine Temple, farmer and newspaper owner/editor. As a member of the V.F.W., he served as State Commander and as National Chaplain where he led prayer before the U.S. Congress and conducted Memorial service at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Washington on three occasions. He was twice elected National Chaplain of M.O.C. He is a member of the American Legion, Woodmen of the World, PTA, Odd Fellows, Lions, and a past Jaycee. He was elected Mayor of Laurel twice. He owned and edited THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST NEWS. He was selected to travel behind the Iron Curtain and visited Russia, Poland, Hungary, East and West Germany, England, France, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan.

He authored three books, his latest being YOUR DAILY DOZEN SPIRITUAL VITAMINS. His other two books are: FIFTEEN EVERGREEN SERMON OUTLINES and SPIRITUAL VITAMINS. One of his addresses had a printed circulation of more than 800,000 copies.

Dr Bucklew gained nation-wide attention and honors in founding Magnolia Boys' Town, our own Home here in Mississippi and the deep South for boys who were rejected, neglected, and in some cases unwanted and unloved. His dream became a living realty with assets of more than $225,000 but, more than fixed assets, thousands of boys were given a home, religious training of their choice, an education, recreation, and most of all, the feeling that they were WANTED and LOVED. Thanks to Dr. Bucklew and the many thousands who shared his dream, these boys had a fair chance to grow up as mature men, useful citizens and happy loyal Americans. Dr Buck did not receive a salary for his full-time services in this work. SERVICE TO GOD BY HELPING OTHERS, was his creed ----- A GOOD NAME IS RATHER TO BE CHOSEN THAN GREAT RICHES AND LOVING FAVORS RATHER THAN SILVER OR GOLD (Prov. 22:1) was his motto.

A CHRISTIAN STATESMAN WITH AN OUTSTANDING RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT, WHO EARNED THE RIGHT BECAUSE OF HIS PROVEN ABILITY AND SERVICE TO GOD AND HIS FELLOW-MAN, TO BE HEARD, RESPECTED, AND REMEMBERED, I PROUDLY PRESENT TO YOU,

DR (REV) WILLIAM HENRY BUCKLEW