Rev. Whitney James Dough now at eternal rest in Lewes
By Pastor William C. Hopkins
Groome United Methodist Church
Special to the Cape Gazette
The Rev. Whitney Dough grew up in Lewes and became a well known evangelist in the United Methodist Church. Although his ministry was primarily concentrated in Florida, he retained his connections in Lewes and the surrounding area. His remains were interred in Bethel Methodist Cemetery May 12. Whitney, who lived to age 90, was a multi-talented person who applied his talents to the glory of God. He was a pastor, preacher, evangelist, hymnist, trombonist, cartoonist, author and a veteran of World War II.
I met Whitney Dough many years ago at Bethel United Methodist Church when he presented one of his hymn-drama nights, during which he spoke about the background of the hymns, sang and played his trombone. In 1983, Whitney published a book titled The Hymn Writers, Our Unknown Friends. Each chapter is a biography of an important hymn writer of the past - included are 32 British and 20 Americans.
Sometime within the last 10 years, while Whitney was in town, he came to Groome United Methodist Church and played his trombone during our Sunday morning worship. Being an amateur trombone player myself, I appreciate a real professional trombonist when I hear one.
Whitney was well known in Lewes for his musical skills when he occupied the first chair in the trombone section of the Lewes High School Band. He wrote the words to the class song set to the music of I’m Getting Sentimental Over You. Over the years he wrote several hymns. He graduated in 1940 and the yearbook lists Whitney’s ambition “to play like Tommy Dorsey.” Whether he achieved that ambition is beyond me to judge; but I know the morning he played at Groome Church his sweet mellow tones, held to full measure by his skilled use of vibrato on his silver King Trombone, kept us in awe. His rendition of How Great Thou Art accompanied by Irene Hazzard, organist and classmate, filled the whole building.
Whitney was also known for his artistic ability, particularly as a cartoonist. The yearbook listed his destiny as “the same as Disney’s,” which explains why he signed his cartoon drawings “By Whit Doesney.” His humor was not just confined to paper. Once on Halloween, the 16-year-old Whitney scaled the Zwaanendael Museum here in Lewes and placed a false face on the statue of Peter DeVries at the peak of the building. To document the event, Hazel Brittingham has the newspaper clipping with a picture of Whitney half way up the side of the building. When he admitted the prank to the town officials, he was required to climb back up there and retrieve the mask.
When he was growing up on Market Street in Lewes, Whitney had a famous companion. If you like hilarious stories and need a good laugh, I suggest you find a copy of his book titled, Andy, Twenty-four Years of Fowl Play with a Talking Crow.
Irene Hazzard recalls the night during a revival service when nationally-known evangelist Percy Crawford was preaching, Whitney, along with several others, went to the altar in Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, where he gave his heart to Jesus. We can praise God for the role that Bethel Church played in nurturing a young boy who later answered God’s call on his life to full time ministry. Only eternity will reveal the number of lives that have been saved through Rev. Whitney Dough’s life as church pastor and as an evangelist on the “Methodist Hour” radio program that broadcast the gospel on 100 radio stations across America and on short-wave around the world.
Whitney Dough’s accomplishments as an evangelist did not go unnoticed among his peers. The National Association of United Methodist Evangelists annually honor two evangelists who have served the work of our Lord Jesus Christ faithfully, skillfully, and with creative fruitfulness. The name “Philip Award” was selected in honor of the Evangelist Philip in the Book of Acts. The list of recipients over the years include:
Billy Graham, Charles Stanley, Corrie ten Boom, George Beverly Shea, Pat Robertson, D. James Kennedy, Charles Colson, Bill Bright, and John Ed Mathison. In 1986 the two recipients of the Philip Award were the Rev. Whitney Dough and Mother Teresa.
As I looked over the list of recipients of the Philip Award, I was reminded of Hebrews 12:1-2, “1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”
Whitney Dough is among that “great cloud of witnesses” cheering us to the finish line. The testimony of their lives of faith is their witness. The record they left behind, like cheers from a grandstand, can encourage us to persevere in our faith.
In these few lines, I cannot begin to describe the life and influence of this son of Lewes. Whitney is a part of us and the colorful history of our town. To have his remains returned here for burial speaks to his love for his family and for the many others in this community who supported him during his formative years, which helped make possible his success as a servant of Jesus Christ.
