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Bishop Richard Looney, E&H ’54, Celebrates His 70th Anniversary Reunion This Year!

Posted by Monica Hoel

It’s hard to imagine Richard Looney as a shy kid…but he says it’s true.

Richard Looney was elected Bishop of the United Methodist Church in 1988 and served for a dozen years in that role in the South Georgia region. Throughout his career he has been sought out as a caring pastor and a dynamic preacher with a great sense of humor and an unforgettable resonant voice.

He attended Candler School of Theology in Atlanta and served in churches from Rising Fawn to Abingdon. He served tiny congregations like the one at Baker’s Chapel and led flagship churches like Church Street in Knoxville.

man and woman smiling Bishop Richard Looney handing over his phone to Sally Allen Crocket (’58) so she can chat with Bishop Looney's sister, Betty Looney Hampton (’58).But in a recent conversation, he traces some of his most influential moments to his college days.

He was only 16 years old when he started classes at E&H and as he says, “…about as green as a gourd!” He took a personality test upon arrival his first year and was designated as a dramatic introvert. “But Emory & Henry ruined me! Four years later I took the test again and was deemed to be extremely extroverted.”

Bishop Looney was a football player at E&H, and played with legendary athletes like Bob Miller (’52, deceased) and Chick Davis (’52, deceased). Chick would later offer him voice lessons that not only helped his singing but also his speaking voice.

During his sophomore year, he and his roommate, David  Allen, heard about the chance to study in Scotland and within 5 weeks the pair had gotten their papers in order, compiled the money needed, and boarded a boat for Europe. They stayed for two semesters, studying with outstanding theologians like James Stewart, and using a month-long holiday to tour around Europe. They rented bicycles and hitchhiked and Bishop Looney said the experience was as valuable as two years of seminary.

black and white photo of two men with a very old bicycle. Richard Looney, E&H ’54 (right) with his college roommate David Allen while hitchhiking and biking around Europe.In 2024, he is planning to return to campus on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of his graduation! Many of his former parishioners will be looking for him in the crowd that Saturday to share a hug and reminisce with the 6’6” pastor who left E&H extroverted and ready to be a pastor who can never be forgotten.

You can enjoy an interview with Bishop Looney on the Duck Pond Wall podcast where you can hear about the MOST unusual bicycle he rented for touring the European countryside!

Open gallery

man smiling
Bishop Richard Looney
Emory & Henry Class of 1954

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  • <div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2348-avery-smith-takes-a-big-step-in-his-opera-career"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,441,1785,2227/11291_IMG-9004.rev.1652729153.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,441,1785,2227/11291_IMG-9004.rev.1652729153.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,441,1785,2227/11291_IMG-9004.rev.1652729153.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,441,1785,2227/11291_IMG-9004.rev.1652729153.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,441,1785,2227/11291_IMG-9004.rev.1652729153.jpg" alt="Avery Smith E&H Class of 2021" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,441,1785,2227/11291_IMG-9004.rev.1652729153.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/68/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,441,1785,2227/11291_IMG-9004.rev.1652729153.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1785" data-max-h="1786" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2348-avery-smith-takes-a-big-step-in-his-opera-career">Avery Smith Takes a Big Step in His Opera Career</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Avery Smith has been chosen for a world-class professional opera program that only accepted about 40 participants – from all over the world <a href="/live/news/2348-avery-smith-takes-a-big-step-in-his-opera-career" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
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