Bio: Rev. Robert Eugene Goodrich, D. D.; Spring Creek, TN., then Caddo Parish,
Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
Date: 1999-2000





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Rev. Robert Eugene Goodrich, D. D., pastor of the First Methodist Church of
Shreveport, has been in the ministry over twenty years and during that time
has filled many prominent pastorates and made a notable record on the side of
constructive service to his church.

Rev. Doctor Goodrich was born at Spring Creek, Tennessee, November 27, 1876,
and was five years of age when his parents, Edward H. and Nancy Harris
Goodrich, moved to Waco, Texas.  His parents were of Scotch-Irish ancestry. 
His father died in 1881.  Albert Eugene Goodrich grew up at Waco, and on
account of the early death of his father was dependent upon his own resources
and exertions for most of his education.  From the age of nine to twenty he
worked in the factories and stores of Waco, and subsequently completed his
literary education in the Southwestern University at Georgetown, Texas, where
he was graduated Bachelor of Philosophy in 1903.  In 1924 Centenary College of
Shreveport, in recognition of his exceptional services in the ministry,
conferred upon him time Doctor of Divinity degree.

Doctor Goodrich joined the Central Texas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, in 1903.  Among other churches, he was pastor of the St. Lukes
Church at Oklahoma City, of the Francis Street Church at St. Joseph, Missouri,
the Austin Avenue Church at Waco, and now the First Church at Shreveport.  In
every community he has represented a vital force for the spiritual progress of
his people and has also been an important instrument in the building of two
large churches.  For two years he was a member of the theological faculty of
the summer school at Southwestern University at Georgetown, Texas.  He was
honored by being sent by his church as a delegate to the late Ecumenical
Conference of Methodism which met in London.

Rev. Mr. Goodrich is a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity, and while a
student in college represented his school in intercollegiate debate and twice
in state intercollegiate oratorical contests.  He was a delegate from his
college to the international convention of the students' movement for foreign
missions.

Doctor Goodrich is a man of exceptional literary gifts.  He is author of
several popular lectures, those best known bearing the title of "Hitting the
Stardust Trail," "Wanted, a World Fixer," and 'Spiking the Guns of Mars."  He
has composed some notable poetry, including such titles as "The Vipers Fang,"
"Follow the Flag," "The Sundown Sea," "0 Day of Hope," "Time Song Immortal,"
"The Old Guard" and "The Three Houses."

Robert Eugene Goodrich married at Cleburne, Texas, October 18, 1905, Miss Moye
Aileen Wilson, daughter of Harvey Seth and Lewella (Newton) Wilson.  They have
a family of six children:  Robert Edward, Jr.,  Lewella Jean,  Baxter Dee, 
Jerome  Duncan,  Harvey Wilson and  Moye Aileen.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 228-229, by Henry E. Chambers. 
Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York,
1925.