Pillsbury Bible College

The trustees of Pillsbury Bible College recently announced that the institution will be suspending academic offerings at the end of the Fall 2008 term. The institution initially opened as the Minnesota Academy and the name was changed to Pillsbury Academy in 1886 in honor of donor, George A. Pillsbury, member of the First Baptist Church, Minneapolis, and one-time mayor. Eight buildings were erected between 1886-1914. The school flourished as a coeducational academy until it was made a boys' military school in 1920.

In the 1950's ownership by the Minnesota Baptist Convention was challenged and on December 23, 1955, the Minnesota Supreme Court declared the Minnesota Baptist Convention the sole member of the Corporation of Pillsbury Academy, holding exclusive rights to the Academy.

Under the leadership of Dr. Richard V. Clearwaters pastor of the Fourth Baptist Church of Minneapolis, president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary, and chairman of the Academy Board of Trustees the school became Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in 1957. Dr. Clearwaters was elected the first president. Dr. Monroe Parker was chosen as the first resident president of the new school and began his presidency in February 1958. Succeeding presidents have included: Dr. B. Myron Cedarholm, Dr. Joseph Rammel, Dr. Alan Potter, Dr. Gerald Carlson, and President Robert Crane, who assumed Pillsbury's presidency in May 1996.