The Hardin-Simmons Hall of Leaders (HoL) was established in 2001 to recognize graduates, former students and former employees who have proven themselves to be individuals of excellent character and to celebrate their many impressive achievements.
The Hall of Leaders is located on the first floor of the Elwin L. Skiles Social Sciences Building. It was made possible by Inez Kelley of Houston and her late husband, Dr. Doyle Kelley. If this name sounds familiar, you may recognize it from The Kelley College of Business, which is named after them and is located in the Johnson building.
Three to four HoL inductees are chosen each year and are recognized and inducted at the annual HoL luncheon. The 2025 inductees are Dr. Evan Allard Reiff, Dr. Andy J. Patterson, Tom Womble and Dr. Lanny Hall.
Dr. Evan Allard Reiff
Ninth President of HSU 1953-1962
1907-1962
Dr. Evan Allard Reiff was born in Bartlesville, Okla. on Dec. 4, 1907 to Fred Leighton and Sara Lilly (May) Reiff. He was the oldest of three children and sadly experienced the death of his father at seven years of age. He graduated magna cum laude from Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) with a degree in English in 1930, then earned an M.A. in 1931 and a Ph.D. in English literature and philosophy in 1937 from the State University of Iowa.
In 1929 he was licensed and ordained by the First Baptist Church of Newport and pastored churches while studying. He taught and served in several positions 1930-1950 at the State University of Iowa, Oklahoma Baptist University, Ottawa University and Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. In 1950 he accepted the presidency of Sioux Falls College.
In 1953, Dr. Reiff accepted the presidency at Hardin-Simmons University and served until his retirement in 1962. During his time at HSU, he brought world-class cultural opportunities to the students and community, increased enrollment, built new dorms and classrooms. He also inaugurated the Artist Series in 1960.
His efforts also made HSU the first racially integrated private college in Texas. In the late 1950s he announced that HSU would accept any qualified student regardless of race. The first Black American students enrolled that fall. He served in many other positions on various councils and associations throughout his life and was the recipient of OBU's first Alumni Achievement Award in 1960.
His wife, Velma Bennett, whom he met while at OBU and they three children: Evangeline (Vangie), Fred and John.
Dr. Andy. J. Patterson
Dr. Andy J. Patterson
1929-2005
Dr. Andy J. Patterson was born to Vaudeville entertainers Andrew E. Patterson and Ida Kate Fulfer Patterson of Gorden in February of 1929. His childhood consisted of constant travel, allowing him a unique perspective colored by diverse influences.
He composed his first melody at five years of age and had begun privately teaching music by the age of 13. He was a master of a plethora of instruments including oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bass, piano, trumpet, viola and bassoon. He studied composition under organist-choirmaster William J. Marsh, who wrote the state song of Texas, Texas Our Texas, while attending junior high in Fort Worth. He was recommended by a Texas Christian University (TCU) professor to study with Arnold Schoenberg and pursued private music composition studies with him during the summers of 1945 and 1946. He graduated at age 16 from Diamond Hill High School at the head of his class.
Dr. Patterson graduated from TCU with his bachelor’s degree in music in 1948, at 19, becoming the youngest graduate at the time. He taught at TCU while pursuing his master’s degree, graduating in 1951. In 1952, he studied composition under Darius Milhaud at Mills College. He then worked as a teacher’s assistant at Florida State University (FSU) while he worked on his doctorate under John Boda and Ernst von Dohnanyi, which he received in 1967. He became a full professor, chair of the department of music theory and composition, and head of graduate studies in music at HSU in 1959.
Dr. Patterson received numerous honors and achievements during his life, such as the Orpheus Award, the Cullen Professor Award twice, once in 1980 for teaching and then research, and creativity in 1984. At the time of his death, he was the only HSU faculty member to receive this distinction. He also won the Texas Composers League Composition Prize and his works were widely performed and published across Canada and the United States.
He also attended workshops and seminars with musical legends including Igor Stravinsky, Carlos Chavez and Hector Villa-Lobos, toured with the Roger Wager Chorale as a bassoonist and performed with the NBC Opera Company.
Dr. Patterson taught at HSU for over 40 years (1959-2000) and possessed one of the university's longest tenures. He married Beverly Jane Shaw and the couple raised three sons: Andy Jr., Michael and Philip. Dr. Patterson was commemorated through the Dr. Andy J. Patterson Memorial Scholarship and a studio in Caldwell Hall after his passing.
Tom Womble
Tom (‘65) and Mary Jane Womble (‘65) (3)
Born William Thomas (W.T.) Womble was born on Jan. 1, 1943, in Morse. Womble graduated from HSU in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree and then continued his education at Tech University School of Law in Lubbock, graduating near the top of his class in 1971. He was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army and received the Army Commendation Medal for “distinguishing himself by exceptionally meritorious performance of duty while assigned as a member of the U.S. Army Security Agency.” He was associated with the Aetna Life Insurance Company in Austin, was a Law Clerk for U.S. District Judge William T. Steger in Beaumont and was an employee of the law firm Baker and Botts of Houston working in the trial department.
He also served as the president of Womble and Spain in Houston, which was formed in 1988, and led early efforts on behalf of railroad and shipping clients. He established a notable record for handling matters dealing with railroad grade crossing accidents, situations which invoked the Jones Act and catastrophic losses.
He also worked with industries and clients in oil and gas exploration and production, chemicals, manufacturing and offshore drilling. He is the former vice president of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel NARTC), is a member of the Product Liability Advisory Council, Texas and Houston Bar Foundations, the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Texas and Houston Bar Associates. Womble is also a former trustee of HSU serving in 2004-2008 and 2021. Womble has also served on the School of Music Foundation and the Board of Development (2009-2020.) He was awarded HSU's 1995 Distinguished Alumni Award in 1995 and is also a member of Houston’s Second Baptist Church.
Womble and his wife Mary Jane (Horton), a fellow 1965 HSU alum, were married on July 23, 1965. “From that day my life has been blessed over and over again. Through thick and thin, good or bad, Mary Jane has been there. She is the reason for every good thing in my life, especially after graduation.” Womble said. “We have three wonderful children and six outstanding grandchildren. Our family is very close.” The Wombles have three children: Jennifer, Will and Seth, who all attended Southern Methodist University.
Dr. Lanny Hall
Dr. Lanny Hall
Fifteenth President of HSU (2006-2016)
Seventeenth President of HSU (2009-2016)
Dr. Lanny Hall was born in Fort Payne, Ala. to parents Doyle and Rachel Hall. While in the first grade, the Halls moved to Fort Worth. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in secondary education with a focus on government and education. He also earned a Master of Education from North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas.) He also later earned a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Austin and attended Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management.
Dr. Hall’s career has included roles in education and government. He has been a public school teacher, congressional aide and special assistant to the U.S. House Majority Leader. As a Texas House of Representatives member, he served as vice chairman of the Transportation Committee and on committees for higher education, public education and appropriations, contributing significantly to legislation impacting healthcare, education and transportation.
Dr. Hall is the only individual to serve as president for three Texas Baptist universities: Wayland Baptist (1989-1991), Hardin-Simmons (1991-2001), Howard Payne (2003-2009) and Hardin-Simmons (2009-2016). While president of HSU, he led four capital campaigns raising over $80 million and growing the endowment by $83 million. His tenure saw significant campus improvements such as Shelton Stadium, the Hemphill Music Building, Connally Mission Center and renovations to Caldwell Music Hall and the Elwin L. Skiles Social Sciences Building.
Dr. Hall held the Haggerton Chair of Political Science and founded the HSU Institute for Leadership. He has also served on several professional organizations such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities and the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities and has also received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career.
In 1962 Dr. Hall met his wife, Carol, at Camp Compass. They have a daughter, Lana, three granddaughters and fondly remember their son Chad.
If you want to learn more about the past inductees you can find their biographies here: https://www.hsutx.edu/about-hsu/hall-of-leaders/#:~:text=Established%20in%202001%2C%20the%20Hardin,and%20women%20of%20good%20character.
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