A memorial service will be held at the Global Learning Center (Baby Mabee) at Oral Roberts University on Saturday, May 27th at 10 AM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving a gift in memory of Dr. Paul McClendon to the ORU Media Enhancement Program. This fund underwrites a wide range of projects including media equipment, studio and labs facilities' updates, student production projects funding, and more.
Ways to Give:
Online:
www.oru.edu/giveformcclendon < http://www.oru.edu/giveformcclendon >
Mail:
Oral Roberts University
Office of Development
7777 South Lewis Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74171
Please reference McClendon - Media Enhancement Program (fund# 203195) in your check memo line.

Dr. Paul Irving McClendon went to be with his Lord Jesus on April 27, 2023. He was known to his family, friends, students, and brothers and sisters in Christ around the world as a man of vision and prayer. The reach of his life will only be known in eternity.

Born June 10, 1928 in Denver, Colorado to Guy and Lexie McClendon, he always loved the mountains and the outdoors. This love was passed on to his children and grandchildren. Even into his 90s he talked and often prayed with family and friends on long walks.

Paul started his adult life in the United States Merchant Marines and, for a short time, in the U.S. Coast Guard. He attended Bob Jones University (BJU) in 1947 and, for a short time, John Brown University where he helped set up their campus radio station. He graduated from BJU with a bachelor's degree in 1951.

While at BJU he met a sweet little southern gal named Constance Nadine Owens. Little did she know how far her world would expand when she married him! By the end of her life, she had visited and lived in over 60 countries. Several years after they were married, out of the blue, he introduced his wife, whom everyone knew as Nadine, as "Connie". This name stuck with her for the rest of her life.

Paul and Connie had four children in their first decade of marriage and one more delightful surprise a decade later. All the children went with him on international trips. Many family dinners included visitors from these trips who came to see Paul and Connie and talk about what God was doing in their lives.

Paul finished his graduate studies at the University of Iowa in 1954 where he got his
Ph.D. in Speech Communications. He began his teaching career at Indiana
University-Indianapolis and in subsequent years took positions at the University of California, Santa Barbara and at Westmont College.

His next stop was Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he served as a founding faculty member and administrator at Oral Roberts University (ORU). Paul was one of the first three administrators hired at ORU in 1964. He helped develop the plans for the Learning Resources Center Dial Access System, a cutting-edge technology in the 1960s
that anticipated later online courses and other forms of distance learning. Other universities came to tour this new concept. He also helped to develop ORU's seal, The idea of having a Prayer Tower in the center of campus, and concept of an education oriented toward the "whole man"-body, soul, and spirit. His personal correspondence
with evangelist Oral Roberts has been fascinating to his family. He was influential, but humble, never wanting to be on the platform, and he left a mark.

Paul was chairman of the Telecommunications Department at ORU, but his true love was teaching, which he did with passion until 1985. Many of his students, who called him "Doctor Mac," maintained contact with him even in his final years. He took two sabbatical leaves during his years at ORU, one in 1971 and again in 1978. On these trips he took his family with him to almost 60 countries on four continents, before finally leaving ORU in 1985 to pursue his calling in missions. He left ORU at the height of his career and spent the next 20 years helping many individuals and ministries around the world to develop media strategies.

Paul had an exceptional ability to see what others could not see in themselves individually and in their organizations and, as a result, changed the trajectory of the lives of many people. He was always keenly interested in the possibility of using satellite and Internet media for purposes of education and evangelism. He helped establish a mobile television studio in Norway, taught many places, and he was a prolific writer.

He and Connie lived 12 years in Austria, where they mentored many people as they discerned their callings. Connie died in Austria in 1999, and Paul returned to the house he bought in 1963 in Tulsa, Oklahoma two years later.

Paul lived the remainder of his life in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but still traveled to Indonesia, India, and various countries into his late eighties. His last years were simple but filled with prayer and time spent reading God's word, both of which were lifelong encouragements to him. He often recommended his favorite devotional, God Calling.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Constance Nadine Owens McClendon. He is survived by five children, Craig David McClendon (wife "Bebby"), Cheri McClendon Schneider (husband Michael), Karen Kaye Schupack (husband Dore), Mark Samuel McClendon (wife Ira), Sharon Marie LaSalle (husband Dan); 18 grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren (and one on the way).