SENIOR MOMENTS by Grandpa Dick
Larry Dotson-Layman to Pastor
Part One: The “First Southern” Years
Larry Dotson was born on Christmas Day, 1945. We did not know then that that beginning date would be significant to his future achievements. In fact we did not meet Larry until my family came to Bakersfield in 1980 and joined First Southern Baptist Church, now called Columbus Street Baptist Church. By then, he was married to Barbara and had two little kids; Brian, born December 19, 1968, and LeAnne, born April 26, 1973. They have been married 44 years. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Here is what happened before that.
Barbara Comer, Larry’s future wife, had been a member at First Southern since the early 50’s. When they married in 1966, Larry was not a Christian, but began attending social events held by Barbara’s Sunday School class. The teacher was Ada Mae Hill, and Larry began to spend a lot of time at the Hill home, talking to Ada Mae’s husband, P. D., and becoming close to the family, especially the youngest two boys, Kurt and Kyle. Larry told me that other than Pastor Clyde Skidmore, the then Pastor at First Southern, P. D. was very influential in bringing him to know the Lord. Clyde led Larry to accept Christ during a Wednesday night visitation. That was in 1975.
Larry grew in the Lord, and became a leader in the Church youth department. I have heard wild stories from some of the youngsters at the church about how Larry and Barbara would take them on mission trips and Church camp outings to northern California and Utah, and somehow they would all return in one piece.
Larry had worked in Administration at PG&E since May, 1969, and continued to be very active at the church. Larry was devoted to the Christian life but was seeking more. He was ordained as a Deacon of First Southern in 1980.
Larry and Barbara lived in a nice home on Pico St., near the East Hills Mall. When the Lord convinced Larry that he should go back to school to become a Pastor, the ownership of the home was a stumbling block. I remember many Deacon meetings where we prayed with Larry asking God to provide a way for Larry and his family to answer that call. Larry said: “If the house sells, that will be a sign.” Time went by, and our prayers were not answered. We knew, however, that it was God’s will for Larry to take this next important step to California Baptist College (now California Baptist University). The Deacon’s continued to pray, the congregation prayed, and word circulated across Bakersfield’s Christian Community. God was beginning to move among the people.
One of the First Southern Deacons was Charles W. (Chuck) Doremus, a top notch Real Estate salesman. With the help of the Deacons at First Southern, money became available, and Chuck put together a sale of the Pico St. house. Escrow closed in January, 1981. It seemed like a long time, but God made that sale happen in only a few months. Larry, Barbara, Brian, and LeAnn were on their way to Riverside.
Next: Part Two: Life at California Baptist College (now California Baptist University)
Grandpa Dick
