William Sears (Bahá'í)

For other people named William Sears, see William Sears (disambiguation).

William Sears

William Sears (March 28, 1911 – March 25, 1992) was a Hand of the Cause of God, writer and a popular television and radio personality. In 2010, he was honored at the Dawn Breakers International Film Festival for achieving excellence as a professional media personality.

Personal life

Sears was married twice and had two children. His first wife, Kathleen Sears, died, leaving him with two children whom his second wife Marguerite Reimer Sears raised. Marguerite also introduced him to the Baha'i Faith and has written a book about his life.

As a Baha'i

Sears heard about the Baha'i Faith from his wife before they married. He researched the religion while they were married and became a Baha'i few years later. When Baha'is were called to pioneer around the world, Sears with his wife and two children pioneered to Africa where they stayed for about ten years. Sears was appointed a Hand of the Cause by Shoghi Effendi in the last contingent of Hands prior to his death in 1957.

Professional life

Sears was a United States television and radio personality. He started as a sport broadcaster and was at the top of his career when he left the business to pioneer to Africa.

He hosted a popular television show "In The Park" that ran from 1951-1953.

Works

Books

• Sears, William (2002) [1961]. Thief in the Night. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 085398008x. 

• Sears, William (1960). God Loves Laughter. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0853980195. 

• Sears, William (1982). A Cry from the Heart: The Bahá'ís of Iran. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0853981345. 

• Sears, William (1985). All Flags Flying. NSA of the Bahá'ís of South Africa. ISBN 0908420625. 

• Sears, William (1997). In Grandfather's Barn. USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0877432570. 

• Sears, William (1988). Prince of Peace. India: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. ISBN 8185091102. 

• Sears, W. (1971). Prisoner and the Kings, The. USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. ISBN 193184741X. http://books.google.com/books?id=hpog6HLUI54C. 

• Sears, W. (1995). Release the Sun. USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0877430039. http://books.google.com/books?id=wZ-Rab0n5CkC. 

• Sears, William (1973). The Flame: The Story of Lua. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0853980306. 

• Sears, William. The Half-Inch Prophecy. NSA of the Bahá'ís of South Africa. ISBN 1874801940. 

• Sears, William (1991). The Wine of Astonishment. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0853980098. 

• Sears, William (1991). Run to Glory. Naturegraph Publishers Inc. ISBN 0879611952. 

Radio

Philadelphia - WCAU Radio - sportscaster

Television

CBS

References

• Harper, Barron (1997). Lights of Fortitude (Paperback ed.). Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0853984131. 

• Plagenz, George (2006-03-03). "Saints and Sinners, Awaiting the Third Coming of Christ?". Newspaper Enterprise Assn.. http://www.emeraldcoastbahais.org/docs/SaintsSinners.pdf. 

External links

• William Sears: Pilgrimage to Haifa. April 1954.
• William Sears: Release the Sun. 1960.