P W Buys

P W Buys, 1923-1999: academic, psalmist, minister, poet Pieter Willem Buys was born on 15 October 1923 in Germiston. He received his schooling at Brakpan and Bronkhorstspruit. He obtained the degrees, B A, BD and the MTh at the PU for CHE. He was called to the combined congregations of Theunissen and Bultfontein. He then served Kroonstad, Potchefstroom and GK Noordbrug (Potchefstroom). He later left for the Netherlands where he continued his doctoral studies and completed his studies in 1970. From 1973 to 1988 he was professor at the Theological School Potchefstroom. He published numerous scientific papers and was commissioned by the Synod, responsible for revising the Totius hymns of the Book of Psalms. Prof Buys was also very well known for his poetry of a mainly religious nature and was at times described as Potchefstroom's other Totius. After emeritating in 1988 he assisted in the pastoral care of the elderly in Potchefstroom. That it was grueling and that the hardships affected him deeply, could be seen in the poem Tuiskoms. He died on 27 November 1999 in Potchefstroom.