U of O Thomas & Frances Wilson Science Center Dedication

The complete renovation and expansion of the former Smith-Broyles Science Center at University of the Ozarks was made possible through the leadership and caring generosity of Dr. Frances Engle Wilson in loving memory of her husband, Thomas Douglas “Tommy” Wilson. Frances and Tommy were married in 1942 in the Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland, where Tommy attended the U.S. Naval Academy, just before he received his commission and began service as Gunnery Officer and then Executive Officer of the Fletcher-class destroyer U.S.S. Fullam. Tommy served in numerous battle engagements in the Pacific through the remainder of World War II. Following the war, the Wilson’s returned to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Tommy went to work as an engineer for the Warren Petroleum Company where he worked until retirement. The Wilsons raised two children, Douglas and Pamela. When they were grown, Frances, having studied writing, speech, drama, and radio broadcasting at the University of Iowa, became a full-time novelist, ultimately having 20 of her works commercially published. Founding members of John Knox Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, Tommy and Frances became acquainted with Ozarks through lifetime trustee, Richard “Dick” Bagwell and his wife, Kay. Inspired by Ozarks’ mission of educational service in the Presbyterian tradition, the Wilson’s have since established multiple scholarship and program endowments to support Ozarks students. They went on to fund the complete renovation of Munger-Wilson Memorial Chapel and the construction of the Wilson Family Chapel Plaza in 2015. Today, the Thomas and Frances Wilson Science Center stands as testament to the Wilson’s enduring love for one another, their deep faith in God, and their desire to help young men and women achieve their educational dreams.