Halls leave legacy after 30 years in Baptist education

ABILENE—Lanny Hall doesn’t mind being first when it comes to his education career. He’s the first to serve as president of three Texas Baptist universities, the first to serve twice as president of Hardin-Simmons University and the first to serve two times as HSU’s chancellor.

Lanny and Carol Hall have spent 17 years serving Hardin-Simmons in two terms as president and first lady. He will begin his second term as chancellor in June, as he moves out of his role as president. He also served as president of Wayland Baptist University and Howard Payne University.

Many believe Hardin-Simmons was doubly blessed when Hall was hired.

“He has loved this institution. Carol has loved this institution. They’ve given of themselves to (Hardin-Simmons), and we’re thankful for that,” said Don Williford, dean of the Logsdon School of Theology and Logsdon Seminary. “We pray that this institution will always honor them with gratitude and respect for the leadership they’ve shown.”

Long before they were president and first lady of Hardin-Simmons University, young Lanny and Carol Hall joined his parents, Doyle and Rachel Hall, on the campaign trail in 1978, when he first ran for the Texas House, where he served from 1979 to 1984. (Hall Family photo)The Halls’ long-lasting union began when they met at a junior high church camp in Denton in 1962. They remained sweethearts in high school, and their romance continued when the two attended HSU in 1967. The Halls married in 1968.

Hall acknowledged his wife’s role in his career.

“She’s more than 50 percent of this enterprise,” he said. “I’m grateful to Carol for all she means to me and what she’s done throughout my career and our career together.”
Careers in government and education

Hall’s 45-year career in education and government has included four years as a public school teacher; three years as a congressional aide, including one year as special assistant to House Majority Leader Jim Wright; five years as a member of the Texas House of Representatives; and two years as state executive with the Teacher Retirement System.

Lanny Hall took the oath of office as he started his first term in the Texas House of Representatives. (Hall Family photo)After teaching high school, Hall went to work for Wright as staff assistant on the National Commission on Water Quality in Washington, D.C. One year later, the congressman appointed Hall to serve as a professional staff member on the Public Works and Transportation Committee’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Review—an oversight subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives. When Wright was elected majority leader, he named Hall his special assistant.

In 1978, Hall returned to Fort Worth to run for the Texas House of Representatives. He won and was re-elected in 1980 and 1982. In 1984, he resigned from the Texas House to become the director of college, university and government relations for the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. The next year, he was appointed the agency’s deputy director for special programs.

For the past 27 years, Hall has been a university president or chancellor. He was president of Wayland Baptist University from January 1989 to May 1991. Then he became the 13th president of Hardin-Simmons, serving from June 1991 to May 2001, and then as chancellor from June 2001 to February 2003. Howard Payne University called him to be its president in March 2003, and he returned to Hardin-Simmons in May 2009. His second term as HSU’s 15th president will end May 31, when he once again will return to the familiar post of chancellor.

During his quarter-century of service as a university president, he was successful in raising operating, endowment and capital funds with results totaling more than $120 million.

Lanny and Carol Hall have attended countless campus events—including a Cowboys baseball game—in their roll as the First Family of Hardin-Simmons University. (HSU photo by Phil Dosa)At Hardin-Simmons, he has led two complete fund-raising campaigns and finished another—the Centennial Campaign, which was under way when he arrived in Abilene in 1991. During his first term at HSU, the endowment increased by $40 million. During his second term, endowment grew by another $43 million. The current fund-raising initiative for HSU—the Transformation 2020 Campaign—is the most successful in the university’s 125-year history.

Facilities improvements made during Hall’s years as HSU president include the construction of Shelton Stadium, the Hemphill Music Building, the Connally Missions Center, the University Place Apartments, a major renovation to Moody Center, and the planning and fund-raising for Caldwell Hall and the Skiles Building. Other improvements under Hall include the Woodward-Dellis Recital Hall renovation, renovation of the Mabee Building for the physical therapy program, construction of the Streich Tennis Center and Gilbert’s Coffee Shop in Richardson Library.

Ask him about his proudest accomplishments at HSU, and he’ll tell you—his plan for an east entrance to the campus, the design of the Skiles Building and establishment of the physical therapy, physician assistant studies and leadership programs. In addition, he is proud of the acquisition of property on Pine Street, east of campus, for future retail and student housing facilities.

During his years in the Texas House of Representatives, Hall was a co-sponsor of major legislation that allowed voters to create regional transportation authorities. He was one of two Tarrant County legislators who embraced and supported creation of a transportation authority for Dallas and for Fort Worth. This legislation paved the way for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority. When he was asked why he was so supportive of mass transit, he often replied: “Someday, gasoline will cost more than $1.00 a gallon. When that day comes, we’ll be glad that we planned for mass transit in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.”

In addition, he authored and cosponsored legislation for higher education, public education, transportation, health care, business and commerce, criminal justice and other fields.

During his work in governmental relations at the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, he was a key member of the team that planned legislative strategy for the passage of a major law in 1985 that established the availability of statewide retiree health insurance coverage for public school employees. The program met a critical need for more than 70,000 retired public school personnel and their dependents.

First lady of service

As first lady of Hardin-Simmons not once but twice, Carol Hall has breathed life into many wide-reaching programs on campus. A welcoming presence on campus across the years, her warm smile and gracious manner immediately set guests at ease. Known for her kindness, she also is lauded for her organizational skills, passion and dedication to worthy causes.

She makes it all seem effortless, friends and observers say.

“This gal can do it all. She’s like Ginger Rogers—‘backwards and in high heels,’” said friend Kathy Waters, while describing her at a reception for the couple.

Carol Hall cites as a role model Lucile Sandefer, who served as HSU’s first lady 40 years. In 2010, Mrs. Hall revived the historic HSU Round Table organization and expanded it to include wives of administration and staff members. Round Table dates back a century earlier when Mrs. Sandefer created the group to cultivate friendships among faculty wives.

Round Table added a new direction under Carol Hall’s watch. She introduced an annual scholarship named for Lucile Sandefer and the HSU Round Table Virtue Award, recognizing women who have exhibited exemplary leadership.

She helped bring big names to campus for the Round Table Scholarship Luncheon, including singer/songwriters Gloria Gaither, Sandi Patty and Cynthia Clawson, as well as Miracles from Heaven author Christy Wilson Beam and Lynda Johnson Robb, daughter of former president Lyndon B. Johnson. Proceeds from the luncheon have endowed the scholarship. Through luncheon ticket sales and the sale of HSU collectible Christmas ornaments, the organization has raised more than $50,000 in the last six years.

The Olsen House, built in 1929, also has been a project close to her heart, for its place in HSU history and its potential as hospitality center. An Abilene Historic Landmark, the house on Vogel Street just north of campus once was home to HSU Professor Julius Olsen and his family. Once the building was renovated, Carol Hall organized and led the Olsen House Historical Exhibition Committee and sought donations and gifts of furnishings for the new exhibits in the house.

She has connected with students because of her keen listening skills. Mrs. Hall, who earned her master’s degree in guidance counseling and student services, served as a counselor at the Birdville, Brownwood and Plainview independent school districts.

Outside of HSU, she has played a vital role in many community organizations. She served the domestic violence support program Noah Project in several key roles, including board president, advisory board member and development chair. She helped raise funds for high-profile events such as the Diamondback Charity Classic. She also serves on the advisory council of the Cancer Services Network.

State recognition came when she was named a Yellow Rose of Texas recipient by Gov. Mark White in 1983 and selected as a member of the Leadership Texas Class of 1993.

A couple devoted

Through their service over the years, the Halls have made a personal investment in the university, according to those who know the couple best.

“First of all, HSU got two people for the price of one when they hired Dr. Hall,” said Susan Keeling, a member of the HSU board of development and wife of longtime football coach Jimmie Keeling.

The university has not been separate from the Halls’ personal life; it’s been part and parcel, Keeling said. That has included the Halls’ hospitality, which had them frequently opening their home on campus for events.

“They’ve shared that president’s home with students, faculty and staff. Something is always going on in their world,” Keeling said. “That’s been a real amazing thing to me—the way they have included the university life in their life.”

Hardin-Simmons recently honored the Halls for their many years of service with a new leadership scholarship bearing their name. Past and present members of the boards of trustees and development raised $36,000 toward the scholarship.

It’s in the Halls’ nature to find a way to give back, even as they exit their familiar roles as president and first lady.

“Looking back, I’m very blessed and you’ve been the blessing,” Carol Hall said at a recent HSU reception honoring the couple’s service.

Many members of the Hardin-Simmons community feel the same about the Halls.