Homer Hailey was a preacher

Preacher

Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...

 in the churches of Christ

Church of Christ

Churches of Christ are autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices. They seek to base doctrine and practice on the Bible alone, and seek to be New Testament congregations as originally established by the authority of Christ. Historically,...

 in the 20th century, as well as a teacher at Abilene Christian University

Abilene Christian University

Abilene Christian University is a private university located in Abilene, Texas, affiliated with Churches of Christ. ACU was founded in 1906, as Childers Classical Institute...

 and Florida College

Florida College

Florida College is a small, regionally accredited, coeducational Christian college located in the City of Temple Terrace, Florida, eight miles northeast of the City of Tampa, Florida...

 and the author of at least 15 religious books. He was well-known for his general biblical

Bible

The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...

 knowledge and especially his knowledge of the Old Testament

Old Testament

The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...

. Homer Hailey and the churches of Christ are the topics of the book The Churches of Christ in the 20th Century : Homer Hailey's Personal Journey of Faith by David Edwin Harrell, Jr. Most of his books are still in print. Audio recordings of his sermons and classes are available through TruthOnDisc.Net

Homer Hailey was born outside Marshall, Texas

Marshall, Texas

Marshall is a city in Harrison County in the northeastern corner of Texas. Marshall is a major cultural and educational center in East Texas and the tri-state area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Marshall was about 23,523...

, on August 12, 1903, the oldest child of Robert Thomas Hailey and Mamie Collins Hailey. His brothers and sisters were Rob, Ruth, Jack, Roy, and Mary Ida. He married Lois Estelle Manly (1907-1954) on December 20, 1930, in Abilene, Texas. They had five children: Roma Luceil, Mary Lois, Homer Rob, Charles Dennis, and Carol Ann. He also was married to Widna Neely Kirby (1917-1997) from October 4, 1955 until her death. Homer Hailey died in Tucson, Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...

, on November 9, 2000, at the age of 97.

In 2000, David Edwin Harrell, Jr., an emeritus professor of religion at Auburn University

Auburn University

Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...

, published The Churches of Christ in the Twentieth Century: Homer Hailey’s Personal Journey of Faith (University of Alabama Press, 2000). In this scholarly study, Harrell alternates chapters between an historical look at an issue or conflict within the first 100 years of the Churches of Christ and the way in which Homer Hailey responded to that issue or conflict. This plain-spoken man who had memorized every verse in the Bible became Harrell's touchstone for the history of the Churches of Christ in the 20th century.

In 2001, Alvin Jennings, owner of Star Bible Publications and a former student in Homer Hailey's 'Denominational Doctrines' class (1949) preserved his polemic style class notes which gave his reasons that led him out of the instrumental churches. Hailey personally reviewed the old hectograph

Hectograph

The hectograph or gelatin duplicator or jellygraph is a printing process which involves transfer of an original, prepared with special inks, to a pan of gelatin or a gelatin pad pulled tight on a metal frame.-Process:...

 outlines and refined them for publication.

List of Books by Homer Hailey

• Attitudes And Consequences in the Restoration Movement: Our Heritage From The Pioneers
• Commentary on Daniel: A Prophetic Message, A
• Commentary on Isaiah: With Emphasis on the Messianic Hope, A
• Commentary on Job: Now Mine Eye Seeth Thee, A
• Commentary on the Minor Prophets, A
• From Creation to the Day of Eternity: God's Great Plan for Man's Redemption
• God's Judgments and Punishments: Individuals and Nations
• Hailey's Comments. Volumes One and Two
• Internal Evidences of Christianity: Outline Studies
• Let's Go Fishing For Men
• Messiah of Prophecy to The Messiah on the Throne, The
• Minor Prophets-spokesmen of God: A Study Workbook for Teachers and Students, The with Robert Harkrider
• Mormonism
• Notes on Mormonism
• Prayer and Providence
• Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary
• That You May Believe: Studies in the Gospel of John
• The Divorced & Remarried Who Would Come To God (Nevada Publications, 1991, 75 pages)
• The Edomites: The Symbol of the World (Religious Supply, Inc., 1998, 117 pages)
• Mechanical Instruments of Music In Worship Today: Detailed Outline of 1949 Class at Abilene Christian University (Star Bible Publications, 2001, 31 pages, ISBN 1567942342)

Sources

• David Edwin Harrell Jr., The Churches of Christ in the Twentieth Century: Homer Hailey’s Personal Journey of Faith, University of Alabama Press
  University of Alabama Press
  The University of Alabama Press was founded in 1945 and is the scholarly publishing arm of the University of Alabama.An Editorial Board composed of representatives from all doctoral degree granting public universities within Alabama oversees the publishing program. Projects are selected that...
  
  , January 11, 2000, 352 pages, ISBN 0817310088, ISBN 978-0817310080