Spring 2007 | Volume 65, No. 3

Robert Coleman, retired professor of biblical archaeology, dies at 90

Robert Oliver Coleman, 90, a retired professor of theology at Southwestern Seminary, died Jan. 17. Coleman was born Nov. 23, 1916, in Dallas to Henry and Mary Coleman. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas and earned a B.A. degree from Baylor University in 1938. He felt called to Christian ministry and attended Southwestern Seminary, graduating in 1958 with a Master of Divinity degree and later a doctorate of theology.

In 1958, Robert became professor of Old Testament, biblical backgrounds and archaeology at Southwestern Seminary, where he served for more than 20 years. During this time, he did graduate studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He also represented the seminary on an expedition to Israel in 1964 and 1966.

Robert was a member of the American School of Oriental Research, the Society of Biblical Literature and was the past president of Dallas Archaeological Societies. He also served in the United States Army as a chemist.

“Robert was just such a pleasant person, always with a keen sense of humor,” Bill Tolar (BD 1955, ThD 1966), distinguished professor of biblical backgrounds, emeritus, said. Tolar joined the Southwestern Seminary faculty in 1965, having been hired to balance Robert’s “specialty” in Old Testament and archaeology with his own expertise in New Testament and biblical history. Tolar said that Robert had a love for biblical archaeology. Robert also loved his students and gained their appreciation in return, he added.