Dr. William H. Hinton: A Man of Vision
President: 1962-1987
Chancellor: 1987-1991
Dr. William H. Hinton was unanimously elected president of the nascent Houston Baptist College in May of 1962. You can imagine him looking out over 200 acres of undeveloped rice fields in Houston’s southwest corner, imagining the vibrant campus that would become, some 60-plus years later, Houston Christian University. At 41 years old, he had no faculty, no students, no buildings, no traditions. All he had was a vision, taken up from the founding fathers of the University, for a Christian college rooted in Houston, founded on scripture.
Those 200 acres of rice fields transformed into a college campus under Dr. Hinton’s guidance. In 1963, campus opened with the Brown Academic Complex (now the Brown Administrative Complex) and two dormitories: the Reuben Philips Residence College for Men and the Rebecca Bates Philips Residence College for Women, all designed by architect Herman Lloyd. It may seem quaint now, but for the 60s this was a state-of-art campus; closed-circuit television ran through all the instructional facilities, and brand-new Steinway pianos graced practice and performance halls alike.
The center of the Brown Complex was the academic quadrangle, which housed the M.D. Anderson Student Center, which itself housed both the bookstore and the cafeteria. The Brown Complex itself housed the academic and religious life of campus: two academic wings, science labs, music and art studios, and Denham Hall. Holcomb Mall was completed in 1969, which is crowned with the Morris Columns. The ten granite pillars, rescued from the historic Galveston County Courthouse, were a gift from HCU founding father Dr. Stewart Morris, Sr. and Joella Morris.
Other key campus developments under Dr. Hinton include the Moody Library, Cullen Science Center and Mabee Teaching Theater, Atwood I and II, the Frank and Lucille Sharp Gymnasium, and the iconic Fondren Road campus entrance, which is crafted from the same Texas granite as the ten Morris columns.
At the academic level, Dr. Hinton guided the University to essential regional accreditation (SACS), its transition from Houston Baptist College to Houston Baptist University in 1975 and developed the innovative CORE curriculum, the interdisciplinary learning of which characterizes the University’s commitment to the liberal arts to this day.
He helped to establish the first master’s programs in business and nursing in 1977 and by 1979 added a master’s in education to the University’s program portfolio.
Dr. Hinton proved an excellent steward of the University’s resources, growing the budget to roughly 16x what it was when the University was founded, alongside significant growth in assets, the endowment and trusts. One of the most prescient and shrewd decisions under Dr. Hinton was the move to develop real estate holdings along the Southwest Freeway and along Fondren Road. The former ensured a key partnership with Memorial Hospital and increased visibility for the University by freeway travelers; the latter provided affordable, convenient housing for faculty and staff and control over the entrance to campus. The bounds and visibility of the campus you see today are in large part shaped by Dr. Hinton’s wise and prescient stewardship of the University’s resources.
One of Dr. Hinton’s priorities from the very beginning was establishing intercollegiate athletic programs, and the University experienced great success across a wide array of sports during his tenure. Highlights include a 1984 appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the men’s basketball team, a season in which they led the entire NCAA in team field-goal percentage at 55.2%, a record which is still good for 10th all-time in NCAA history. The Huskies also experienced success in men’s soccer, golf, track and field, and more.
He retired on June 1, 1987, serving exactly 25 years. At the time, he was the longest-serving university president in Texas. The Hinton Academic Center is named in his honor.
On June 1, 1987, Dr. Hinton took on a new role, as chancellor of Houston Christian University. He held that position until his retirement on June 30, 1991.
Born in Estelline, Texas, Dr. Hinton was educated in Texas schools, where he became known for his leadership as a class president and all-state athlete. At Howard Payne University, he played on the football and basketball teams, both of which participated in the NAIA national semifinals. After graduating from Howard Payne in 1943, Dr. Hinton joined the Army Corps of Engineers and served as a lieutenant in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
While pursuing his advanced degrees, Dr. Hinton served as a teacher, coach, principal and athletic director in several Texas school districts. During that time, he received his master’s degree from Hardin Simmons University and his doctorate in education from the University of Texas. Dr. Hinton also served as executive vice president of Howard Payne University, president of Northeast Mississippi Junior College and president of Texarkana College.
Dr. Hinton is not only one of the foundational visionaries in our University’s history; he also is remembered for his generosity of spirit and personal magnetism. His relentless pursuit of academic excellence in Christian education, his desire to build a vibrant campus community, and his passion for the gospel inspire us all and serve as a way-sign as we pursue our mission and vision.
Dr. Hinton passed away on April 10, 2004.
