President’s Perspective Few university presidents get the chance to return to a previous place of service to begin, again. Nine months ago, I was honored to be invited to return to the Forty Acres. This was a totally unexpected blessing at this point in my life. What a tremendous privilege it is to return to this great institution where Carol and I wore freshmen beanies back in the mid1960s and where I served as president and chancellor from 1991 to 2003. Thomas Wolfe penned the words, “You can’t go home again.” Well, Carol and I have “come home again,” and we are most grateful for the opportunity for a second tour of duty at Hardin-Simmons University. In this issue of the Range Rider, several HSU graduates and former students are featured in stories that chronicle their careers as university presidents. I know that all those featured would agree that the university presidency is the greatest job in the world! How exciting it is to spend each day surrounded by energetic, hopeful students, intelligent and creative faculty, and dedicated, optimistic staff. And if that were not enough, the university president’s spirits are regularly buoyed by encouragement from alumni and generous friends who give sacrificially to undergird the institution’s worth. Another great blessing that comes from service as a university president is the thrill of participating in visioning, goal-setting, and implementing strategic plans that lead to the realization of university dreams. In 1980, Mark Victor Hansen, coauthor of the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul book series, wrote a book titled Future Diary. When speaking to students, I often quote from Hansen’s book to underscore the importance of goal setting in personal success. Hansen quoted J. C. Penney who once said, “Give me a stock clerk with a goal, and I will give you a stock clerk who makes history.” While this simple statement has great application in the area of personal success, Penney’s observation also has relevance to institutional success. I submit that a university with goals is a university that “makes history.”
I am looking forward to the coming months as Hardin-Simmons University determines a new set of goals and dreams for its future. As this Range Rider goes to the printer, our institution is embarking on a new journey of visioning and strategic planning for the great successes that are ahead of us. This will be an exciting journey as we “make history” together. I thank God for the exceptional opportunity to lead HSU, once again. I pledge to all HSU alumni, former students, faculty, staff, and current students that I will give my best efforts to enhance the institution’s regional and national prominence, garner unprecedented resources for programs and facilities, and add value to the Hardin-Simmons experience. This institution has weathered storms and enjoyed great successes since its founding in 1891. Throughout the years, Hardin-Simmons has remained true to the mission of its founders and held fast to its commitment to be a community dedicated to providing excellence in education enlightened by Christian faith and values. Over the last decade, HSU has made extraordinary progress in expanding its physical plant, building endowment to record numbers, expanding its academic programs, and rising in regional and national recognition. And now, HSU is positioned for continued growth and expansion. As we enter the second decade of the twenty-first century, there is a positive, anticipative atmosphere on campus. The HSU community is already crafting worthy goals and aspirations. The Board of Trustees, faculty, administration, and student body of HSU are ready for new challenges, successes, and accomplishments. Working together with thousands of engaged alumni and a host of supportive and encouraging friends, the university is poised to achieve unprecedented success. I predict that by the year 2020, HSU will have achieved a myriad of its dreams for the future!