Dr. William "Bill" McCauley

William Erwin McCauley, lovingly referred to as Bill, was born to Rodney and Martha (Hutchens) McCauley on December 19, 1939, in Tennessee Ridge, Tennessee. He was the middle child of three, with an older brother, Larry, and a younger sister, Sherry.

Bill was a devoted husband to his beloved wife of 56 years, Janie, a loving father to his two daughters, Erin (Burchwell) and Megan, and a proud grandfather to Gracie Jane and father-in-law to Jason Burchwell.

Bill’s passion for music and education was evident from a young age. He graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in Music Education. His pursuit of excellence in fine arts led him to earn two master’s degrees, one in Voice and the other in Speech. In 1965, Bill began his teaching career at Tennessee Temple College, where he taught voice, speech, and choir, and also conducted the a cappella choir.

On January 20, 1968, Bill married Janie Caves McCauley, and together they embarked on a lifelong journey in education, music, fine arts, and missions. That same year, they both left Tennessee Temple to pursue doctoral degrees, with Bill eventually earning his Doctor of Musical Arts, with a focus in Voice, from the University of Cincinnati.

Next in their educational journey, Bill and Janie returned to Bob Jones University where they dedicated a combined 86 years to teaching in the Music, Speech, and English departments. Bill was renowned for directing the choir affectionately known as “McCauley’s McVespers McChoir” as well as for his work with the Drama in Singing classes, private voice lessons, and church music and history courses. He was also the creative force behind the university’s annual operas, directing productions such as Aida, Rigoletto, Andrea Chenier, The Barber of Seville, and many more.

Above all else, Bill’s most cherished endeavor was leading a choir of 25 students on missions across Western and Eastern Europe ever summer for over 20 years. These students, who fondly referred to him as “Dr. Dad,” sang in multiple languages in various venues, including concert halls, cathedrals, hospitals, orphanages, roadsides and prisons. Dr. Dad’s mission team “kids” were like family to him, and his home was always open to them. They ministered in countries such as Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, the Baltics, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, and Italy. Their team of college kids fit everything for 10 weeks into three rental vans and crossed all of Europe, from the Matterhorn in Switzerland to dangerous border crossings into the Soviet Union, while they sang and shared the Gospel to as many people as possible.

While he wasn’t teaching, traveling, or directing operas, Bill could be found in his summer garden, planting his favorite vegetables, watching movies at home, directing choir in his church, or spending time with his family, both at home and abroad.

Bill met his Lord and Savior peacefully, with his wife, Janie, and daughter, Erin, holding his hand as his Ohio pastor read a psalm and prayed, all while some of his favorite church music was playing. He was loved by so many, and we take comfort in knowing he is now singing with the angels in the most brilliant choir he has ever heard.