Written by Sarah Kyle; Kim Kokernot
Settling his hands upon the podium, a man looks up with the sparkle of youth shining through the wisdom of his years and the crinkle of a smile in his eyes.
His eloquence takes students on a journey of laughter, tears and spiritual learning as he shares the story of his beloved late wife and her battle with Alzheimer’s.
Jim Bill McInteer wistfully told students that he dreamed of the day he would be reunited with his beautiful bride Betty, the love of his life. On March 8, 2010, McInteer passed from this earth into her arms, finally fulfilling his dream.
“What an incredible, joyous reunion for Jim Bill,” board member Jerry Morgan said. “I don’t think I have ever known anyone who lived their life in more anticipation for this day than Jim Bill. I am happy for him.”
Harding University President David Burks said that the love story between McInteer and his wife was one students should learn from and strive to follow, particularly when Betty’s Alzheimer’s progressed and left her unable to care for herself.
“He had a sparkle in his eyes when he talked about Betty,” Burks said. “I think the love story between Jim Bill and Betty was something everybody could identify with. In that sense, he was a model for all of us in how he took care of her and loved her.”
Burks added that McInteer extended his loving spirit and wisdom to help Burks cope and look to God when his wife, Laura, was diagnosed with cancer.
“The way he prayed every day for my wife when she knew she had cancer I think made all the difference in the world in her recovery,” Burks said. “So I couldn’t even begin to put words to the impact he’s had on my life.”
McInteer’s prayer life made him a spiritual leader to all that encountered him, especially members of the Harding Board of Trustees, Burks said. McInteer was appointed to the board at a very young age and would have received a pin signifying 60 years of service in April of this year.
During his time on the board, McInteer served as secretary for over 25 years.
“More than that, he simply was the spiritual leader of the board. So in a very real way, you can almost say he was a spiritual leader for the university,” Burks said. “People respected his opinion, and when he spoke on an issue, that was pretty much the end of the conversation … that simply answered whatever the question might be.”
Senior oral communications major Joshua Monroe said that McInteer’s spiritual influence was evident each time he shared his life experiences in chapel.
“Every single thing that Jim Bill ever said was from the bottom of his heart, absolutely genuine,” Monroe said. “You could see that he absolutely loved Jesus.”
Monroe added that McInteer set an example for students to follow in their daily lives.
“You look at all the things that he did, the way he lived his daily everything. The way he prayed, the way he talked to people. I think that the model he lived by was … Jesus to the world,” Monroe said. “I would say that his biggest contribution to the student body was just the model that he set up for people.”
Board member and Harding alum Danny Hawk said that he still remembers his first encounter with McInteer when Hawk was a student on a Bible major’s retreat in 1975.
“I still remember how I was touched by the presentations that he made to us that weekend,” Hawk said. “His insights as a Gospel preacher were so rich and his genuineness was so amazing. From that time until today I never neglected any opportunity I have had over the past 35 years to hear him speak, and I have always been blessed by what he had to say.”
Beyond his spiritual expertise, board members Bill and Fran Chism shared that McInteer possessed a unique gift: the ability to relate to all generations.
“We have never met a man who could relate to both young and old as well as Jim Bill,” the Chisms said. “What an example he was in so many ways.”
While Burks noted that McInteer contributed financially to the university throughout his life, he added that his dedication and character left a profound impact on the student body.
“It would be impossible to really measure what his influence was to Harding,” Burks said.
