Howard Payne Prez Moves to Hardin-Simmons
By: Laura Kellerman
Updated: March 5, 2009
Dr. Lanny Hall, president of Howard Payne University in Brownwood, has been named new president of Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.The move is a return to Hardin-Simmons for Hall, who served as president there from 2001 to 2003 and president from 1991 to 2001. He was also a student at the university in the 1960s.
While serving as president at HSU, the university's endowment grew from $31 million to $75 million, according to Baptist Press.
Hall was also a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1979 to 1984.
Two committees began the search for a new president, after Dr. Craig Turner left last summer. The committees considered several candidates, interviewed the top 10 and conducted "in-depth visits" with the four finalists, the university said in a press release.
"With an understanding of HSU's history and heritage, and with abiding respect for the solid fiscal foundation that the University enjoys today, I look forward to the high privilege of leading HSU," Wall said.

