Pastoral Biography... Philippians 1:6
"...who hath begun a good work in you..."
Pastor of 27 years, Richard K. Tosh.
his one and only grandson,
Trey...Pa Pa's Sunshine!
My Great-Grandmother's Father, my Great-Great Grandfather, Richard Ellis was a circuit-riding Presbyterian preacher. My Grandfather, M.M. Keeton, was a Nazarene preacher who quit preaching and became a singer/piano player. Once, while preaching, his boys got in a scuffle in the church and the church folks criticized him so much for not controlling his kids, that he simply quit preaching. He was licensed in the Nazarene church in Tucumcari, New Mexico. So, he ended up in Red River County Texas and ended up playing the piano. His father, Jesse Keeton was shot and killed in Paris, Texas and is buried at Roxton, Texas. The family lived in the Hillsboro and Waxahachie area after that. Somehow they moved to the Panhandle of Texas for work and that's where I was born, Pampa. . But I left West Texas after I surrendered to preach at Victory Baptist Church in Stinnett, Texas after graduating from Stinnett High School. I had moved to Lubbock after graduation and worked for a summer and became a draftsman through a business college. But, I answered the call to this ministry and left the possibility of a degree in engineering at Texas Tech on the table.
I left Lubbock, Texas in 1965 and moved to Dallas-Oak Cliff to attend Bible School. Lots happened in Dallas. I met Emma Lee Spencer and that was that. She was pretty. She was a preacher's daughter. And, she played that Stamps-Baxter style of piano. So, our ministry was born and we were married at Southside Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Her father, Dr. A.L. Spencer and Dr. B. F. Dearmore married us. It's lasted quite a while. Probably longer than most people expected.
We found ourselves Celebrating 43 years of Marriage on August 14, 2009. All in Ministry. I got me some degrees. Have pastored Eastside since 1982. Love the ministry. Love the people. Don't always understand them, but love them. God knows the gains and the losses and "there's too much to gain, to lose" .
Dr. Emma Lee Tosh holds a Doctor of Christian Education degree and a Bachelor of Music degree. She is the church pianist and plays an active role in the church. She is a native of Fort Worth.Emma Lee is my miracle lady! She was struck by lightning at the church door a few years ago and survived. She had some strokes a couple of years ago and hardly missed a beat playing that piano! Thank God for the blessing of a faithful and industrious wife! She has been the mainstay in my life all these years.
Emma Lee and I began to sing together early in our marriage. We still sing together.
Richard and Emma Lee were honored in September , 2008 with the
Calvin Wills Southern Gospel Music Award presented in Paris, Texas by the Board of the Southern Gospel Music Association of Texas. This award was given in recognition of work in promotion and teaching of Gospel music for many years.
The Tosh School of Gospel Music celebrated 24 years in June 2009.
More information on the school is available on the next page.
Philippians 1: 6
"...shall be able to complete it..."
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Drs. Richard and Emma Lee Tosh
Eastside Baptist Church Fort Worth
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