Hardin-Simmons University

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Mission	Hardin-Simmons University is to be a community dedicated to providing excellence in education enlightened by Christian faith and values.
Established	1891
School type	Private
President	Dr. W. Craig Turner
Location	Abilene, TX, USA
Enrollment	1970 undergraduate 2333 total
Endowment	$102,783,614 [1]
Campus	Urban, 96 acres (388,512 m²)
Newspaper	The Brand
Yearbook	The Bronco
Sports team	Cowboys/Cowgirls
Website	www.hsutx.edu

Hardin-Simmons University (or HSU) is a private Baptist university located in Abilene, Texas.

1 History
2 Mission statement
3 Presidents
4 Awards / Distinctions
5 Notable Alumni
6 External links
7 References

[edit] History

Hardin-Simmons University was founded as Abilene Baptist College in 1891 by the Sweetwater Baptist Association and a group of cattlemen and pastors who sought to bring Christian higher education to the Southwest. The original land was donated to the university by Rancher C.W. Merchant. The college was renamed Simmons College in 1892 in honor of an early contributor, James B. Simmons. In 1925, it became Simmons University. It was once again renamed to Hardin-Simmons University in 1934 in honor of Mary and John G. Hardin who were also major contributors. ^[1]

The University has been associated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas since 1941. Its students come from diverse backgrounds and a variety of Christian denominations. With an approximate enrollment of 2,300, the student-teacher ratio is 14:1.

A fully accredited university, Hardin-Simmons offers six undergraduate degrees with 70 majors, and seven graduate degrees with 18 programs. Pre-professional programs include dentistry, engineering, medicine, law, pharmacology, and seminary. The school also offers a doctorate in physical therapy - the first in Texas which is open to private citizens.

[edit] Mission statement

Hardin-Simmons University is to be a community dedicated to providing excellence in education enlightened by Christian faith and values.

[edit] Presidents

1892-1894	Rev. W.C. Friley
1894-1898	Dr. George O. Thatcher
1898-1901	Dr. O.C. Pope
1901-1902	Rev. C.R. Hairfield
1902-1909	Dr. Oscar H. Cooper
1909-1940	Dr. Jefferson Davis Sandefer, Sr.
1940	Dr. Lucian Q. Campbell, acting president
1940-1943	Dr. William R. White
1943-1953	Dr. Rupert N. Richardson
1953-1962	Dr. Evan Allard Reiff
1962-1963	Dr. George L. Graham, interim
1963-1966	Dr. James H. Landes
1966-1977	Dr. Elwin L. Skiles
1977-1991	Dr. Jesse C. Fletcher
1991-2001	Dr. Lanny Hall
2001-2008	Dr. W. Craig Turner

[edit] Awards / Distinctions

2007

US News and World Report America's Best Colleges 2007.
Princeton Review Best Western Colleges 2007.

2006

Colleges of Distinction 2006.
US News and World Report America's Best Colleges 2006.
Princeton Review Best Western Colleges 2006.

[edit] Notable Alumni

Byron Roberts Sr.( Baseball Pro)
Stedman Graham
Willis Whitfield (Inventor of the Cleanroom).
Clyde "Bulldog" Turner (Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame).
John "Lee" Atwood (Chief Engineer, Boeing. Worked to produce P-51 Mustang & B-25 Mitchell bomber).
Dan Blocker (Played role as Hoss on 60's TV show Bonanza).^[2]
C.V. Wood (entrepreneur who relocated London Bridge to Lake Havasu, Arizona)
Leighton Paige Patterson (former President of the Southern Baptist Convention, and current President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)]
Harvey Lee Catchings (former NBA basketball player)