Clear Creek Baptist Bible College

Roadside view of the campus

Dr. L.C. Kelly (1874-1955) was born April 18, 1874 in Choctaw, Alabama to Solomon and Sarah (Felt) Kelly. He became a Southern Baptist preacher at the age of 20, as he furthered his education he pastored many small country churches. He earned a four-year degree at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. Moving to Louisville, Kentucky at the turn of the twentieth century he became the editor of the Kentucky Issue the Louisville Local newspaper. In 1907 he and Nancy Newland married in Stanford, Kentucky at her father's home. In 1908 Rev. Kelley and his bride moved to Orlinda, Tennessee to take the pastorate at Orlinda Baptist Church. Here Lloyd and Nancy began their family. He and Orlinda Baptist Church started an annual Bible Institution in 1908.

After 1910 the family moved to Taylor County, where Kelly began working with the Russell Creek Association of Baptist. The association ran an academy called Russell Creek Academy, which went into financial distress in 1908. Kelly aided in its reopening the school in 1914, and in 1916 began holding higher education classes; it later developed into Campbellsville University. Kelley took the pastorate of the First Baptist Church in Pineville in 1919; here he led prohibition rallies and preached passionately against alcohol. In 1924 while walking the L&N railway through a pre-civil war tunnel crossing creeks and mountains the voice of God came clear to him.

The first meeting was held in 1926, with a two-week schedule. He felt led to start an annual Bible Institute and chartered Clear Creek Mountain Springs, Inc. The institution transformed into Clear Creek Mountain Preacher School and Clear Creek Baptist School during the 1940s and 50s. During the 1920s Clear Spring was used by the Kentucky Baptist as their Camp meeting location, as revivals were held on what is now the main campus and the athletic field. In the 1930s and 40s RA (Royal Ambassadors) and GA (Girls in Action) camps were held for children all over Kentucky. One Child from Pineville, Buddy Albright, announced his call to the mission field at an RA Camp. He later became a Missionary to Africa along with his wife Jean (Flowers) Albright. The campus work study program was an interesting one, with large chicken coops and farming areas, a furniture factory (making pews and pulpit furniture), and RA arrows for archery men could work and provide and study as well. In 1948 Kelly Hall was finished, which housed family and single students as well as offices and a chapel. Kelly Hall still serves today as the male dormitory and cafeteria.

Dr. D.M. Aldridge came as President in the 1954 and brought the school into full-time education ministry. The work study program flourished and campus housing improved. In 1982 Dr. Leon Simpson came as president, during that time in 1986 the school received full accreditation.

One of the faculty serving at that time was Dr. H. Leo Eddleman (1911-1995), who has served many of our Baptist Schools. He received his PhD from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, after being appointed missionary to Palestine, he returned and began his professorship at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He went on to become the President of Georgetown College, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He also was employed by the Baptist Sunday School Board. He retired from Clear Creek Baptist Bible College in 1989 and moved back to Louisville, Kentucky.

Kentucky Baptist Convention president Bill D. Whitaker became the college's fourth president in 1988. During his tenure, the school became debt-free and constructed a new education center, now known as the Bill D. Whitaker Class Room Building. Donnie Fox replaced Whitaker as president in 2007. The President's home was moved back on campus in the first year of his administration to have better interaction with the campus family. The college continues to operate without debt under his leadership.

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