I would like to thank Grace College and Seminary for the decision to change the name of the facility in Winona Lake back to Rodeheaver Auditorium and Conference Room!  
Homer Rodeheaver or “Mr. Homer” known to some was the Bill Gaither of his day and should be recognized. He was an evangelist, music director, music publisher, composer of gospel songs and a pioneer of the recording of sacred music. Rodeheaver was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and then in 1904 served with evangelist W.E. Biederwolf and then in 1910 from 1930 with the baseball evangelist Billy Sunday as director of music.
He resided in Winona Lake along with the Sundays and was famous around the world. 100 years ago in the mid 1920s “Rody” and Virginia Asher sang many songs with “The Old Rugged Cross” selling over 1 million copies.
He died in 1955 leaving a legacy through the Rodeheaver Company which was acquired by Word Music in 1969. With a booming bass voice and trombone he led untold numbers of people in meetings singing praises to God.
Rodeheaver’s favorite verse was Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
On Saturday, Sept. 14 at Oakwood Cemetery in Warsaw, Rodeheaver and Asher will be two of a group of people buried there portrayed during the Cemetery Heritage Walk from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The event is commemorating the 150th anniversary of Oakwood Cemetery and all are welcome! For more information, go to Facebook Warsaw Oakwood Cemetery Walk.
Ken Locke is corps administrator of The Salvation Army in Warsaw and director of the Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association. Have ideas for this column? Go to www.gwma.info.