Rev. George H.D. Reader of Chrisman, Olivet's oldest living alumnus, recognized by Church of the Nazarene

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Dr. J. K. Warrick (R) presents award to Rev. George H.D. Reader at Illinois District Assembly

BOURBONNAIS, IL (07/12/2012)(readMedia)-- Chrisman resident Rev. George H.D. Reader, Olivet Nazarene University's oldest living alumnus, was recently honored by the Church of the Nazarene's general church headquarters and the Illinois District as the oldest living ordained elder in the church's history. The award was presented to Rev. Reader, age 105, on July 11, 2012, during the Illinois District Assembly held at Decatur First Church of the Nazarene, Decatur, Ill.

"This recognition is well-deserved," said Dr. John C. Bowling, president of Olivet. "From the day he first sensed God's call in his life in the summer of 1920 until now, Rev. Reader has honored that calling as a loving and faithful husband, father, pastor, and servant of God."

Rev. Reader pastored, taught and evangelized throughout the Midwest until his retirement in 1976. He and his late wife, Gertrude (Sill) Reader, an Olivet alumna, led many revival services together. She assisted in her husband's evangelistic ministry by doing chalk art work.

Rev. and the late Mrs. Reader are the parents of four sons: John, James and Daniel; and Paul, who passed away in 1996.

While a student at Olivet in the 1920s, Rev. Reader sang bass in a student quartet and preached on weekends. He and Gertrude met while she was serving on Olivet's faculty. He graduated from "Old Olivet," Olivet, Ill., in 1929.

He served on Olivet's Board of Trustees for 21 years, and numerous members of the Reader family have attended Olivet.

Even today, he remains a faithful supporter of the University.

Olivet Nazarene University is an accredited Christian, liberal arts university offering more than 100 areas of undergraduate and graduate study, including the Doctor of Education in ethical leadership. Olivet has one main campus in Bourbonnais, Ill. - just 50 miles south of Chicago; three sites: Rolling Meadows and Oak Brook, Ill., and Hong Kong; and more than 100 School of Graduate and Continuing Studies learning locations throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest. From Oxford to Tokyo, hundreds of Olivet students also experience the global classroom each year, whether through study abroad opportunities or worldwide mission trips.

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