First Hispanic leads Texas executive board

DALLAS — Rudy Sanchez made history Feb. 22 when he became the first Hispanic to preside over the 231-member Texas Baptist executive board. Sanchez, 63, was elected chairman of the executive board last September.

Sanchez, pastor of the First Mexican Baptist Church, Dallas, has held a number of key leadership roles in the 2.7-million-member Baptist General Convention of Texas. He has been president of what is now the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas and second vice president of the general convention. He has also served on many boards and committees of other Baptist institutions.

Sanchez is a graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He has pastored churches in six Texas cities, including Dallas and Corpus Christi.