Hall of Leaders
Established in 2001, the Hardin-Simmons University Hall of Leaders provides for permanent recognition of graduates, former students, and former employees who have distinguished records of achievement and proven themselves as men and women of good character. It is located in the Elwin L. Skiles Social Science Building on the first-floor circular corridor. The Hall of Leaders was made possible by a generous gift in 2001 from Inez Kelley of Houston, Texas, and her late husband, Dr. Doyle Kelley.
| 2024 | Bob Bryan | Businessman – Utility Executive |
| 2024 | Dr. Robert G. Mangrum | Educator – Public Servant |
| 2024 | Laura Moore | Non-Profit Executive – Civic Leader |
| 2023 | Dr. Virginia Armstrong | University Professor – Christian Advocate |
| 2023 | Major Albert G. Maroscher | Educator – Military Officer |
| 2023 | Inez and Doyle Kelley | Christian Business Leaders – Philanthropists |
| 2023 | Dr. Eddie C. Hadlock | College President – Community Leader |
| 2023 | Henry Guy Caldwell | Rancher – Civic Leader |
| 2023 | Dr. A.C. Miller | Pastor – Denominational Leader |
| 2022 | Dr. Jan Patterson | Medicine and Christian Service |
| 2022 | June Frost Leland | Philanthropy and Community Service |
| 2022 | Dr. Loyd Hawthorne | Music Education and Christian Service |
| 2022 | Jeff Goodin | Military Leader and Higher Education |
| 2019 | Dr. William Oswald Beazley, Jr. | University Administrator – Minister |
| 2019 | Cydney Melinda Mizell | Servant Leader – Teacher |
| 2019 | Pete Ondeng | Economic Development Strategist – Author |
| 2019 | Cynthia K. Pearson | Non-Profit Executive – Community Leader |
| 2018 | Ivan I. Smith, Jr. | Business Owner – Community Leader |
| 2018 | Elta Joyce McAfee | Philanthropist – Community Leader |
| 2018 | Bruce Evans | Corporate Executive – Volunteer |
| 2018 | Dr. Elwin L. Skiles | Pastor – University President |
| 2017 | Hon. Samuel J. Carroll, III | Military Leader – Judge |
| 2017 | Pauline M. Richardson | University First Lady – Professor |
| 2017 | Dr. H. K. Neely | University Administrator – Theologian |
| 2017 | Linda C. Carleton | University Dean – Community Leader |
| 2016 | Harry T. Bradley | Public Servant |
| 2016 | James E. Porter | Educator, Public Servant |
| 2016 | Lucile Gilbert Sandefer | First Lady of Hardin-Simmons University |
| 2015 | Dr. Bertie Kingore | Professor and Education Innovator |
| 2015 | Honorable John G. Hyde | District Judge and Community Leader |
| 2015 | Hilton Hemphill | Investments Executive and Christian Leader |
| 2014 | Dr. George Newman | Professor, Public Servant, Rancher |
| 2014 | Johnnie Lou Avery Boyd | Professional and Community Leader |
| 2014 | Mary C. Hardin | Benefactor |
| 2014 | Samuel Phillip Wilson | Public Servant and Business Leader |
| 2014 | John G. Hardin | Benefactor |
| 2013 | James Magee Parker | B.B.A. 1951 |
| 2013 | Commodore Vanderbilt Wood Jr. | Ex 1939 |
| 2013 | Ann Margaret (Smith) Coody | B.A. 1959 |
| 2013 | Shirley Ann (Narmour) O’Dell | B.A. 1953 |
| 2013 | Bobby Dan Davis Blocker | Ex. 1946 |
| 2012 | Charles Wesley Logsdon Jr. | B.A. 1929, HSU Trustee |
| 2012 | Delma Dale Haralson | BBA 1959, HSU Trustee |
| 2012 | Koreen Willcox Logsdon Hemphill | Student 1926-1932 |
| 2012 | Judge Clifton Mott Caldwell | HSU Trustee 1919-1965 |
| 2012 | Gene Adams | BBA 1954, MA 1962, HSU Trustee |
| 2011 | Jesse Coleman Hunter Jr. | Mayor of Abilene, Oilman, Rancher, Ex 1934 |
| 2011 | Col. (Ret.) L. Bryan Shelburne Jr. | Leader and Commander of the U.S. Army Band, BM 1965 |
| 2011 | Krivin Kade Legett | Judge, Attorney, Civic Leader, Founder and Charter HSU Trustee |
| 2011 | Koma Beryl (Mahler) Fields | Church and Community Leader, BA 1940 |
| 2010 | Roy C. Crane Jr | Cartoonist, Ex 1919 |
| 2010 | Virginia (Randel) Burroughs | Servant Leader, BA 1950 |
| 2010 | Robert M. Wagstaff | Attorney/Legislator, BA 1913 |
| 2009 | William P. “Dub” Wright | Oil Executive, Longtime HSU BOT Chair |
| 2009 | Helen Jean (Bond) Parks | Missionary, BA 1948 |
| 2009 | James B. Simmons | HSU Benefactor, Pastor |
| 2009 | Daniel Yeary | Pastor, BA 1961 |
| 2008 | John Powell Clayton | Department of Religion Chair, Boston University, BS 1964 |
| 2008 | Marion B. McClure | HSU Cowboy Band Director, BA 1933 |
| 2008 | Moxley Featherston | Federal Judge, BA 1935 |
| 2008 | Jack T. Martin | Head Basketball Coach, Lamar University; Texas Air National Guard Brevet Brigadier General, BS 1948 |
| 2008 | Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch | US Army Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), Motivational Speakers, BS 1976 |
| 2008 | Nita Brooks Lewallen | Cowgirl Hall of Fame, Ex 1943 |
| 2007 | Dr. Peter James Flamming | Pastor, BA 1955 |
| 2007 | George S. Anderson | HSU Trustee 1903-1964 |
| 2007 | Maridell (Fisher) Fryar | Teacher/Administrator, BA 1957 |
| 2007 | Dr. Jesse Conrad Fletcher | HSU President Emeritus, Community Leader, Church Historian, and Author |
| 2007 | Dr. Lee Hemphill | Pastor, HSU Vice President, BA 1929 |
| 2007 | Dr. William E. “Bill” Thorn | Dallas Baptist University President Emeritus and Motivational Speaker, BA 1948 |
| 2006 | Dr. Betty Pearce Stephenson | Anesthesiologist, BA 1947 |
| 2006 | Dr. Willis Whitfield | Physicist, BS 1952 |
| 2006 | Dr. Truett Latimer | Former State Representative, Film Producer, and Former President of the Houston Museum of Natural Science |
| 2006 | O.C. Pope | West Texas Church Founder and HSU President 1898-1901 |
| 2006 | Dr. Francis McBeth | Composer Laureate of Arkansas, BM 1954 |
| 2006 | Frank Junell | Noted West Texas Civic Leader, BA 1934 |
| 2005 | Gordon Wood | Texas High School Football Coach, BS 1938 and MEd 1952 |
| 2005 | Katharyn Duff | Journalist, BA 1936 |
| 2005 | Joe Black | Golf Pro, Ex 1955 |
| 2005 | Glen Burroughs | Oil Industry Executive, BA 1949 and MA 1950 |
| 2005 | Oscar Henry Cooper | 5th HSU President 1902-1909 |
| 2005 | Julius Olsen | HSU Dean, 1902-1942 |
| 2004 | Virginia (Boyd) Connally | Physician, 1933 |
| 2004 | David Scott “Scotty” Holland | Oil Executive and Geologist |
| 2004 | John Hanna Brewer | Microbiologist, 1930/1932 |
| 2004 | Marijohn (Melson) Wilkin | Musician and Song Writer |
| 2004 | Willie Leo Scott | Adjutant General of Texas, 1947/1949 |
| 2004 | Dossie Marion Wiggins | University Administrator, 1919 |
| 2003 | Fess Elisha Parker Jr. | Actor, Ex 1947 |
| 2003 | Dr. Jefferson Davis Sandefer Sr. | HSU President 1909-1940 |
| 2003 | William Tippen | Texas Congress and Texas Senate, 1943 |
| 2003 | Dr. Dellanna (West) O’Brien | Baptist Women’s Missionary Union, 1953 |
| 2003 | Zollie Coffer Steakley | Texas Supreme Court Justice, 1929 |
| 2003 | Dr. Henry Bryce Jordan | Pennsylvania State University President, 1942 |
| 2002 | Maye Bell Taylor | Missionary, 1929 |
| 2002 | John Leland “Lee” Atwood | North American Aviation, Inc., 1926 |
| 2002 | Jefferson Davis Sandefer Jr. | Oil Industry, 1920 |
| 2002 | Holman Jenkens | Law Firm, Jenkens and Gilchrist, 1938 |
| 2002 | Omar Truman Burleson | U.S. Congress, 1926 |
| 2002 | Sid W. Richardson | Philanthropy, 1912 |
| 2002 | Eugene Holman | ExxonMobile Corporation, 1916 |
| 2002 | Conrad Ramsey Lam, M.D | Cardiac Surgeon, 1927 |
| 2002 | Clyde “Bulldog” Turner | Pro Football Player, 1940 |
| 2001 | F. Earl Ingerson | Geology, BA 1928; MA 1931 |
| 2001 | Mildred Paxton Moody | First Lady of Texas, 1917 |
| 2001 | Rupert H. Johnson | Investment Banking, BA 1922 |
| 2001 | Rupert N. Richardson | Hardin-Simmons University, 1912 |
| 2001 | Ruth Legett Jones | Philanthropy, BA 1913 |
| 2001 | W. Hines Sims | Church Music, 1928 |
| 2001 | W.B. Irvin | Education, BA 1921; MA 1927 |
| 2001 | George Herman Mahon | U.S. Congress, BA 1924 |
| 2001 | William Thomas Reid | Northwestern University, 1926 |
| 2001 | Charles P. McLaughlin | Baptist General Convention of Texas, BA 1941 |
| 2001 | Carl Coke Rister | University of Oklahoma, 1915 |
| 2001 | A.B. “Stormy” Shelton | Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc., 1937 |