2006 Orien B. Hendrex Distinguished Teacher
John A. Wheeler
Dr. John Wheeler was the 2006 recipient of the Orien B. Hendrex Distinguished Teacher Award. This is the second time Dr. Wheeler has been selected for this award. The award is presented annually to a faculty member who has been judged by the previous three years' and current year's graduating classes to be outstanding in teaching ability and personal guidance. The Board of Trustees at Southwest Baptist University has designated this award in memory of former academic dean, Orien B. Hendrex.
Dr. Wheeler began employment at Southwest Baptist University in 1983 as an assistant football coach and half-time assistant professor of physical education. Since that time, Dr. Wheeler has held various positions at SBU including associate to the vice president of academic affairs, director of teacher education, chairman of the department of teacher education and, from 1994 until 2003, dean of the Lewis E. Schollian College of Education and Social Sciences. He currently serves as a full-time faculty member.
Dr. Wheeler earned an undergraduate degree from SBU in 1972; a masters degree at Pittsburg State University in 1977; an Ed.S. at Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State Universty); and a doctorate from the University of Kansas in 1990. In addition, Dr. Wheeler was the recipient of the Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2003.
As elder and co-founder of Wellspring Baptist Fellowship, Dr. Wheeler frequently fills the pulpit during the worship service on Sunday. He and his wife, Joanna, have been married for 32 years and have three grown sons: Adam, Andrew and Aaron. Dr. Wheeler enjoys raising registered Angus cattle on his farm near Bolivar.
