Gloria Lee Sickal Gaither
Gloria Gaither is a powerful and articulate advocate for the mission of higher education and in particular the church-related institution of which she is a most distinguished alumna. This graduate of AndersonUniversity has been called upon for a number of years to serve on the Council for ChristianColleges and Universities and is now a trustee for the Council’s United Christian College Fund. Her passion for expanding the horizons of creative young people finds expression in the classroom where she teaches and mentors aspiring artists. Her writing and speaking schedule affords many opportunities to be an advocate for the full development of gifted students who find their way into some of the nation’s best independent colleges and universities.
For more than four decades, she and her husband and partner have made Indiana their home and a supportive foundation for their creative work that is known literally around the world. As an advocate for higher education, the Alexandria couple has agreed to head every major capital campaign for AndersonUniversity over the past fifteen years. They have had a particular interest in supporting opportunities for minority students and have established endowed scholarship funds to support and advance the enrollment of minority students on the Anderson campus. Through their influence and leadership, well in excess of $100 million has been raised and committed to advance the cause of higher education on the AndersonUniversity campus across these developing years.
Gloria Gaither grew up in a pastor’s home in Michigan. She came to AndersonUniversity to pursue studies in French, Sociology and English. Her ultimate goal was to find a career in foreign missionary service. Over these past years of her amazing career as a lyricist, writer and performer she has visited the stages of the world and has given voice to inspiring ideas that have certainly fulfilled the missionary’s dream. With her husband of over 40 years, she gave the message to the song and did it in the language of the heart to touch millions. Collectively, she has shared the copy line for more than 600 songs, recorded over 60 albums with the Gaither Trio, and written more than 18 books. Her writings are from common experiences of life, giving voice and insight to profound but simple matters of faith.
Gloria and Bill have been recognized many times by the gospel music industry for gospel classics such as “Because He Lives,” “Something About that Name,” “Something Beautiful,” “Upon this Rock,” “Let’s Just Praise the Lord,” and “I am a Promise.” Indianapolis can thank her for a great song of the city, which she co-wrote—“Indianapolis Indeed.” In more recent artistic endeavors, she has helped to create the images of the Homecoming Video Series, which has been a product of this creative partnership that has set numerous records in the industry. The Gaither Homecoming Videos have currently sold over 7.5 million copies. The Gaither Homecoming Concerts sell more than 1.1 million tickets each year in sold out arenas across the country including Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center. In 2000 Gloria and Bill became the first-ever recipients of the Songwriters of the Century Award presented by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Citizens of Indiana have been among many who have honored this gifted writer over the past several years with such distinct awards as the Sagamore of the Wabash and, most recently, a citation of appreciation from the Indiana House of Representatives. The Council for ChristianColleges and Universities bestowed upon her the Mark O. Hatfield Leadership Award during its national meeting earlier this year. This award was first given to the distinguished senator from Oregon, Mark O. Hatfield, and later awarded to Billy Graham, Carl F.H. Henry and Charles Colson. She has frequently addressed graduating classes at a number of Indiana colleges and universities and holds seven honorary doctoral degrees.
As an academic leader, Gloria Gaither holds a Master’s degree from BallStateUniversity and has been recognized for her gifted presentations on the lecture stage, particularly around the work of John Steinbeck. She presented a paper on John Steinbeck at the Carol and Kendrick Memorial Steinbeck Lecture Series at BallStateUniversity and is currently working on a production of a stage musical adaptation of Steinbeck’s novel To a God Unknown.
A Brief Personal and Professional Bio
Gloria Gaither—Author, Lyricist, Teacher, Speaker, Mother, and Grandmother
Born: March 4, 1942, Battle Creek, Michigan
Education: 1963 (cum laude) Bachelor of Science Degree with majors in English, French, and Sociology from AndersonUniversity, Anderson, Indiana.
1991 (Dean's citation for academic honors) Masters of Arts in Literature from BallStateUniversity, Muncie, Indiana.
Married: December 22, 1962, to William J. Gaither
Children: Suzanne Gaither Jennings
Amy Gaither-Hayes
William "Benjamin" Gaither
Professional Works
Gloria has authored many books, including such best sellers as:
Let's Hide the Word and Let's Make a Memory (both co-authored with Shirley Dobson) (Word); What My Parents Did Right (Star Song and Tyndale House); We Have This Moment--pieces from a decade of Gloria's personal journal (Gaither Family Resources); Decisions (Gaither Family Resources), Fully Alive (Gaither Family Resources), Because He Lives (Zondervan Pub.); Friends Through Thick and Thin (Zondervan Pub.); The "Blessing" series (J. Countryman/Word) God Gave the Song (Zondervan) and many other publications for children.