Regent Chairperson Georgia Tate and former Eastern President Dr. Bill H. Hill receive the Oklahoma Heritage Award.
(Press Release 6-19-03)
Office of Public Information

Eastern Oklahoma State College Regent Chairperson Georgia Tate from Heavener and former Eastern President Dr. Bill H. Hill, Antlers, will be among five individuals receiving the Oklahoma Heritage Association Regional Awards Tuesday (June 17) at a luncheon on Southeastern Oklahoma State University campus.

The awards are presented to individuals who have contributed to the cultural and historical preservation of Oklahoma and the southeastern region.

Other Oklahoma Heritage Regional awards recipients include Choctaw Chief Greg Pyle, Mr. Stan Stamper and Judge Steve Taylor.

The association also awards the Oklahoma Heritage Scholarships to a number of students during the luncheon slated for 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Student Union Building, Magnolia Room, on the Durant campus.

Tate became a member of Eastern’s regents in 1986 following an appointment by Gov. George Nigh. She became chairperson of the Wilburton college regents in July 1989. Her current term as an Eastern regent expires in 2005.

Georgia and her husband Martin retired in 1987 from Tates Department Store in Heavener in 1987. The store had been in operation since 1948.

She and Martin have been married for 55 years. They have four children and nine grandchildren scattered across the nation and world. She said she had one in Spain, Australia, Italy and Germany.

She is a member of the: Heavener Woman’s Club, First Christian Church, chairman of the Heavener Library Board, past-president of the Heavener Woman’s Club, past-secretary of the 7th District GFWC, past-member of the Regional Board of Christian Church, Regional Board of Christian Women’s Fellowship, served on the Christian Church Foundation Board and served with the Heavener Chamber of Commerce.

Regents at Eastern Oklahoma State College named former Eastern president Hill as President Emeritus during their December meeting on the Wilburton campus.

President Emeritus is an honorary title bestowed to someone who has served with distinction according to current Eastern President Dr. William Campion.

“It’s given to someone who has served the institution well,” Campion said. “It was given to Dr. Hill because he left the institution in a better position than he received it.”

The 14-year veteran president retired as president of the college at the end of the 1999-2000 school term. Hill accepted the position as Eastern’s 15th president in 1986.

“I am convinced that new leadership brings a new freshness and a dynamic that can and should be rewarding to the institution. I think that 10 to 15 years is certainly enough time for a President or CEO to provide aggressive leadership,” Hill said upon his retirement.

“A person in a leadership position, if not cautious, can become stale and uninspiring. I am very anxious for that not to happen at Eastern Oklahoma State College.”

Called a supporter, listener and change master, Eastern Oklahoma State College President Bill H. Hill, became the chief executive officer of the Wilburton college after being appointed to replace retiring Dr. James M. Miller by Eastern regents during their August 1986 meeting.

Hill initiated a number of positive changes for Oklahoma higher education during his tenure as Eastern president former Oklahoma Chancellor for Higher Education Hans Brisch said.

“President Bill Hill has made a lasting contribution to Oklahoma higher education and the preparation of state citizens for competitive futures. He offered outstanding leadership as Chairman of the Council of Presidents and founder of the Oklahoma Association of Two-Year Colleges,” Brisch said.

“His creative efforts to establish the Section 13 Offset Fund, the only source of capital funding for many institutions, distinguished Dr. Hill as a leader and visionary of the highest magnitude. Southeastern Oklahoma and Oklahoma are truly better for his service.”

Increased public involvement in Oklahoma higher education has been the focus of activity targeted to bring the community into the education process for southeastern Oklahoma.

Hill is a native of Antlers and served 17 years as the Executive Director of the Kiamichi Economic Development District of Oklahoma (KEDDO) before becoming Eastern’s president.

He received his bachelor’s and masters degrees from Oklahoma State University and received his doctorate from Texas A&M, Commerce campus.

Hill was an active civic worker, chairman of the Oklahoma State Association of Councils of Government; chairman of REDARK; secretary/treasurer of Oklahoma Hills, Inc.; Oklahoma’s representative to the National Association of Development Organization and made numerous appearances at congressional hearings on economic development.

He served as Chairman of the Council of Two-year College Presidents and Chairman of the State Association of College and University Presidents.

For his contribution to Oklahoma higher education and the state, Hill was named to the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 1997. He was the only inductee that was ever added to the hall of fame on his first year of eligibility.

He placed emphasis upon the capacity of higher education and Eastern to meet the public need. As a result, a number of changes occurred at Eastern during his leadership.

Throughout his 14 years as president, Eastern:

* implemented new associate programs in corrections,

* hosted the first summer science and engineering institute for area high school students,

* dramatically increased library holdings, computerized search and cataloging,

* formed a successful alumni association which developed the Alumni Hall of Fame to identify successful former students and encourage current students,

* breathed new life into a reorganized foundation now holding more than $2.9 million in assets, used primarily to provide scholarships for Eastern students,

*raised more than $10 million for the college including: foundation assets, more than $4 million for the McAlester campus building, land and equipment, with an additional grant of more than $1.2 million from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma,

* became home to the Oklahoma Department of Mines training and safety functions,

* became home to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Cadet Training Facility, rejuvenating a 500,000 square foot abandoned dormitory,

* garnered more than $2.5 million in grants including agreements with the United States Department of Agriculture Research Services and Title III,

* created the Tri-County Association of Superintendents for greater input into legislative and higher education processes for service area high school interests,

* expanded the nursing program to include a transition program through interactive television at the Higher Education Center in Idabel,

* developed a campus computer network to all buildings allowing access to Oklahoma ONENET and global connections through Internet,

*renovated a second outdated dormitory into a modern facility and student assessment and counseling center through cooperation with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma,

Although the list seems lengthy, many other changes have occurred. These are only the highlights.