Hardin-Simmons University President Named to Haltom High School Hall of Fame

ABILENE, TX (03/27/2012)(readMedia)-- Hardin-Simmons University president, Dr. Lanny Hall, has joined the ranks of famous graduates included on the roster of the Haltom High School Hall of Fame. Hall was one of three former HHS graduates inducted earlier this month into the Birdville Independent School District high school's Hall of Fame, which was created in 2011.

Hall joins graduates like John Giordano, past director of the Ft. Worth Symphony and judge for the International Van Cliburn piano competition; Jim Angle, national affairs correspondent for Fox News; and Ron Hall, author of the New York Times best seller Same Kind of Different as Me.

Over the last 40 years, Hall has enjoyed a distinguished career in education and government. It includes service as a public school teacher, congressional aide, state agency executive, as well as university professor, vice president, president, and chancellor.

He served as special assistant to the House Majority Leader in Washington in 1977 and 1978. He was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1979 to 1984 and has served in other government positions in Austin and Washington.

Hall earned his Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of Texas in Austin in 1985. He has served as president of three Texas Baptist universities: Wayland, Howard Payne, and Hardin-Simmons.

He is currently serving in his second presidency of HSU. Under his leadership, HSU has experienced academic and financial success, and the construction and renovation of a number of campus facilities.

Lloyd Sizemore, chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee, says, "We are very proud of our students and their accomplishments but also take great pride in our graduates and what they accomplish after they leave our school.

The Haltom High School Hall of Fame was created to recognize and honor the accomplishments of our alumni."

Sizemore says candidates are chosen for consideration each fall from a large number of nominations submitted either online or by letter. "We have a committee of teachers who review each nomination and collectively vote on the inductees. There is no set number of honorees, it will vary depending on the decision of our committee," says Sizemore.

"This year we were honored to include Dr. Lanny Hall as one of our three inductees. His service to our state and to education in Texas is a source of great pride to our community and school," says Sizemore.

Hall was honored during the March 8, 2012, community breakfast as part of Public Schools Week. Other honorees were Tommy Hays and Thomas Watkins, both long-time BISD administrators, who have contributed a great deal to BISD.

Sizemore says of HSU's president, "I have seldom met a more gracious and honorable professional than Dr. Hall." Later this spring, Hall's photograph and a brief biography will be added to the Haltom High School Wall of Honor.