Remembering James Didier, Judson University's fourth president

Dr. James W. Didier, the retired fourth president of Elgin-based Judson University, is being remembered this week for his contributions to the school over more than three decades of service.

Didier died Feb. 20 at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin, soon after his family gathered around his bed to sing hymns with him. He was 87 and had suffered from pancreatic cancer.

A 34-year-old Didier paid his first visit to what was then known as Judson College as a guest chapel speaker in 1967. It was just four years after the Baptist-affiliated school had moved to Elgin. He returned to Michigan and told his wife Joan, "That is one place I would never want to go!" But a few months later he agreed to take a job there.

He ended up spending the next 31 years at Judson as dean of student affairs, executive vice president and finally president from 1992 to 1998.

During his presidential years he was largely responsible for the college starting an adult education program, starting a school of architecture and acquiring the seven-story hotel building that was converted into the Lindner Tower.

The college's enrollment doubled and during those 31 years he coordinated campus development as the school built its women's dormitory, chapel, fine arts building, athletic complex, dining hall and fitness center.

"Even in his 80s ... he was always looking at possibilities," said the Rev. Greg Huguley, who is both senior pastor at the church Didier attended - First Baptist of Elgin - and a member of the Judson board of trustees. "

His successor as Judson president, Jerry Cain, said Didier "was John the Baptist for me and my 14 years as president. Not that I was a messiah but Jim, like John, understood his job was to prepare the way for others. Jim prepared the way for Judson to make big steps into the future and put it in the hands of others to make it happen.

"Professionally, Dr. Didier set me up with three projects to move Judson into the 21st century," Cain said, citing acquisition of the hotel building, launching of the Adult Degree Completion program, and starting the architecture program, which Cain said fills "a unique niche which no other Christian school was filling."

Didier knew the founders of Judson College, Cain said, "and the motivations that drove them forward ... He regularly reminded me of the lofty goals and personal sacrifices they made."

"He had a steadying influence on the growth and life of Judson - I think of the old expression 'clerk of the works,'" said Robert Erickson, who was on the Judson Student Life Committee that recommended hiring Didier.

Teaching Biblical and theological studies for 51 years, Erickson said his family and Didier's became "inextricably connected" as they lived near each other and the three Erickson sons became friends with the same-aged three Didier sons.

Didier never fulfilled his teenage dream of becoming a missionary. But as a self-described "internationalist," he attracted many foreign students to Judson and visited more than 70 countries for either business or pleasure.

One time he was sharing dinner with the president of Nigeria when a revolution broke out. On another trip he visited communist North Korea at a time when hardly any Westerners were allowed.

Besides his education career, his life included stints as a Baptist youth pastor, a university chaplain, a septic-system designer, a welder, a barbershop cleaner, a meter reader and a backhoe operator.

Off campus, Didier became a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Elgin and joined the Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission. In the 1970s he chaired a subcommittee that drafted a master plan for the entire Elgin riverfront, including the parks that since have replaced the Woodruff & Edwards foundry and a lumber yard.

In 1997, Didier announced he would follow in the tradition of Judson's third president, Harm Weber, and retire when he turned 65 on the following Christmas Day, although he continued as president until Cain replaced him in October 1998.

He continued to live in the Elgin area after he retired and served until 2012 on the Judson board of trustees.

A visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at Laird Funeral Home in Elgin. Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. on Feb. 29 in the Herrick Chapel at Judson. He is survived by his wife, Joan, two sons and five grandsons.