1921 was an auspicious year. It was the year Babe Ruth hit his 138th home run breaking the 23-year home-run record held by Roger Connor. The Emergency Quota Act was passed to limit the number of immigrants allowed to come to the US. It was also the year of the Tulsa Race Massacre, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was dedicated in Arlington National Cemetery. That year also saw the birth of Odie M. Hoover on September 21 in the rural town of Bell Buckle, down the road a piece from Nashville and Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Odie was blessed with several innate gifts including a marvelous singing voice and the ability to easily endear himself to anyone through his warmth, encouragement, outgoing personality, and respect for everyone. From an early age, he used those talents to travel around Nashville preaching and singing.
Though he had taken some courses at Tennessee State, he instead decided his true calling was with the church, so he enrolled at American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville. Graduating in 1949, he would later be conferred with the Doctor of Divinity (hon.) for his distinguished service in ministry and civic contributions.
Now Rev. Hoover has much sought after. Known as a go-getter and a focused, goal-oriented person, he was very civic-minded as he watched the US struggle with civil rights. Not just content with being a minister, he was also a social justice activist, something that would figure largely in his life in coming years.
In 1952 Rev. Hoover traveled to Cleveland to hold a revival meeting at the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church. The strength and depth of his focus and preaching prompted a number of pastors to request he return and take over for the retiring pastor, Rev. Eugene Ward. Rev. Hoover, stepping out on faith as he usually did, accepted the offer.
Beginning his pastorate at the age of 29 in 1952 at what was then known as the Second Olivet Baptist Church, Rev. Hoover began building an infrastructure based on community, brotherhood, and mutual support and respect. Thus, the byline “Making our neighborhood a brotherhood” became the driving focus in later years of the Fairfax community where the church was located.
During his tenure as pastor, the congregation grew from 500 to over 5,000. People were drawn to Rev. Hoover’s preaching, his insistence on uplifting members to positions of stature and status. The church became a haven for respectability, equality, and honor, an oasis built against the predations of widespread and deeply entrenched racism that existed throughout the country, not just in the South.
To align the church and the many community projects it either originated or supported, Rev. Hoover spearheaded efforts that led to the church changing its name to the Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in keeping with the movement at that time that sought to minister to the soul through spiritual and social uplift. Rev. Hoover developed a holistic model of ministry that spoke to all aspects of individual, family, and community life.
Unsurprisingly, Rev. Hoover and the church began to gain widespread attention. Many years before, he met Rev. King in Birmingham, Alabama, and was a great supporter of Kings’ movement. Dr. King subsequently made Olivet the local headquarters
for his work whenever he was in Cleveland. Rev. Hoover, an accomplished fundraiser, helped to raise funds for Dr. King.
As many churches are well aware, fundraising is a constant issue and Rev. Hoover did much to not only bring together the monies needed to finish the building of a new church building, located at Quincy Avenue, but to pay off the mortgage in just seven years. Rev. Hoover, along with many church members, helped with many of the tasks during the building’s final construction.
Started a tradition with many of our influential leaders from Cleveland and around the country who would come to the church, which is something that continues to this day.
Rev. Hoover extended his reach beyond Fairfax to work with mayors, council people, the governor, and people from all walks of life. If there was one thing Rev. Hoover knew, it was how to “extend the olive branch.”
As you might expect, though, Rev. Hoover, not a pretentious bone in his body, was a friend to not just luminaries, but all the members of the community. He truly believed that he was no better than anyone else. Rev. Hoover was constantly visiting and uplifting people and was known as a “facilitator of empowerment.”
A role model to many, Rev. Hoover helped many African Americans see and understand their own value and self-worth, not just within the church but without. Out of respect, he never called people by their first names, but Mr., Mrs., and Miss. In return, he was endearingly known as “Big Daddy.”
In 1966, as part of a church legacy and community support, the O.M. Hoover Christian Community Center was opened, Dr. King delivering the dedication. The center provided its members and the wider community with fellowship, recreation, and community activities. Today, the center has vastly expanded its programs to meet the needs of community members.
Though Rev. Hoover passed on in 1973 after serving as pastor for over twenty years, he is still remembered fondly by his family and those who knew and worked with him in so many capacities. As Dr. King wrote: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Thus was the life of Rev. Odie M. Hoover who stood tall, who embraced all, who spoke up for and empowered all no matter what was occurring in their personal lives, in the community, or nationally. He was a living testament of “Making our neighborhood a brotherhood.” ●
