Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation insights<br>Foundation honors Egan award recipients
Mouzon Biggs Jr. is a name widely recognized in the Oklahoma Conference. With 54 years of pastoral ministry, Rev. Dr. Biggs recently retired as senior minister of Tulsa’s Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. Mouzon and his wife Gayle’s legacy will live on at Boston Avenue for many contributions to the church, including growing the church’s endowment funds. Mouzon and Gayle were instrumental in helping grow Boston Avenue’s endowments during his 33-year tenure at the church. When Mouzon was appointed to Boston Avenue in 1980, the church’s general endowment fund totaled $200,000. Today the general, building, and missions endowments total more than $31 million collectively. The Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation recently honored Mouzon and Gayle with the Jim Egan Legacy Award. During the May 29 report to the 2013 Annual Conference, lay and clergy delegates responded with a standing ovation for the couple when the award was presented by Bishop Hayes; Bill Junk, Foundation president; Dr. Robert Long, Foundation board chairman; and Bob Bowles, Jim Egan’s grandson. "Mouzon and Gayle are great encouragers of the Foundation. Throughout his years at Boston Avenue, Mouzon has talked openly about legacy giving and the impact of endowments, which is evident from Boston Avenue’s significant endowment funds," said Junk. Mouzon often spoke about the church’s endowments from the pulpit. He said every such gift was like putting money in the offering plate each week and truly leaving a legacy within the church. When the church received planned and estate gifts, he would talk about the impact those fund will make on the future of the church. This has inspired countless people to remember Boston Avenue through planned or estate gifts. "What makes Mouzon so very special is not only his love for Boston Avenue, but his love for the Oklahoma Annual Conference. He had many laypeople with the means and desire and encouraged them to give to United Methodist ministries such as senior adult homes and camps. He helped his congregation step up and be generous and bless so many things you and I benefit from today," said Dr. Long as he presented the award. The Foundation instituted the Jim Egan Legacy Award in 2003. The award recognizes persons who model Christian stewardship and philanthropy. As an original incorporator of the Foundation, Jim Egan exemplified stewardship and dedicated his life to United Methodism. Past recipients of the Jim Egan Legacy Award include the late Jim Egan of Muskogee, Richard and Norma Small of Tulsa, the late Dail West of Miami, Bob and the late Cissy Parker of Tulsa, Elliott and Lu Fenton of Oklahoma City, Jean and the late Joe Holliman of Tulsa, Glenn and Veronica Cox of Bartlesville, and Paul and Ann Milburn of Shawnee. |
