In the mid 1970s, after nearly 25 years of steady growth, the university again fell on hard times. In 1976 United Methodist Bishop Paul Milhouse discussed the school's issues to the Annual Conference of Oklahoma United Methodist churches in Tulsa.[1] After requesting that people direct their prayers and pledges to the University, by 1980 the Methodist Church had raised more than $3 million.[7] Jerald Walker, an OCU alumnus, became president in 1979 and continued the university's growth stemming from the financial support from the Church.