Southern Seminary is thankful for the long and fruitful life and ministry of Ladislau Biro, who died on March 6 at age 101. As a faithful servant of God, he blessed generations of lives during his ministry.

Biro served in theological education in Romania as a faculty member of the Baptist Theological Seminary in Bucharest from 1936-1939, followed by 50 years of pastoral ministry in the United States.

Southern is honored to count Biro as one of its alumni and thankful that in 2007 he received a copy of his diploma (dated 1935) that was destroyed in a hurricane. Greg Wills, associate dean of theology and tradition and professor of church history at Southern Seminary, represented the seminary shortly after Biro’s 100^th birthday celebration to officially replace his degree.

Biro came to Southern Seminary while E.Y. Mullins was serving as the seminary’s fourth president. Biro graduated in 1931 with his master of theology degree and received his doctor of philosophy in 1935 during John R. Sampey’s presidency.

Biro is survived by his wife, Katalin; four children: Andrew, Richard, Bonnie-Lois and Ladd; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The Southern Seminary community grieves with the Biro family at its loss.

Biro’s faithfulness as a pastor represents the tenure in ministry that Southern desire from each of its graduates. Biro is part of a legacy of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ that continues today at his alma mater. Southern is thankful for the faithfulness Biro showed by supporting the institution even into his 101^st year of life.