Abilene Hall’s Engineering Space Dedicated

On Tuesday, August 29, 2023, a dedication ceremony for Abilene Hall took place.

Over the past two years, Abilene Hall has been under construction, being retrofitted to house HSU’s engineering program. An additional 7,000 square feet were added to the building’s southern elevation. The first floor houses lab space for hands-on learning, while the second floor contains lecture halls, a computer lab, a student lounge, and data center. The third floor will continue to be under construction as it’s prepared to house HSU’s developing nursing program, scheduled to open in 2025.

New additions include:

Dick and Martha Brooks Conference Room

Dick and Martha Brooks

Dick and Martha (Garrett) ’70 Brooks have both served on the HSU Board of Trustees and are members of the John G. Hardin Society. Martha is a former Assistant Principal of Abilene High School, and Dick, with a degree in electrical engineering, is the retired CEO of Central and South West, which was the parent company of West Texas Utilities.

The Dick and Martha Brooks Conference Room is named in recognition of their generous support of – and service to – Hardin-Simmons University.

Brian Cargile Data Center

The late Brian Cargile served 35 years with Hardin-Simmons University’s Technology Services and was voted Staff Member of the Year in 2022.

Brian’s connections to HSU and Abilene Hall go back decades. His mother, Edna (Walker) Cargile ’49, was a student when the original Abilene Hall burned down in 1947, and the love of his life, Linda (Davis) Cargile ’82, is a former member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

On March 22, 2022, Brian was surprised by President Eric Bruntmyer with the announcement of the Brian Cargile Data Center, a new server space named in his honor in Abilene Hall.

Dr. George and Carolyn Newman Dean’s Suite

George and Carolyn Newman

George and Carolyn Newman came to Hardin-Simmons in 1967. Retiring after 25 years of service, Dr. Newman is known on campus as the former president of the HSU faculty, Professor Emeritus of Biology, and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Carolyn (Calvert) Newman, like her husband, has dedicated her life to education. Retired from Dyess Elementary School after 29 years of service to AISD, Carolyn was known for Dyess Elementary’s “I Love America Day” and was named the National V.F.W. Teacher of the Year in 2000-2001 for teaching patriotism to her students.

The Newmans have blessed Hardin-Simmons throughout the years, and the Dr. George and Carolyn Newman Dean’s Suite is named in recognition of their impact on HSU.

Background information on Abilene Hall:

The original Abilene Hall opened in 1913 and was named as a tribute to the people of Abilene for their years of support and prayer towards Hardin-Simmons University. The city and people of Abilene were integral in the construction of Abilene Hall by raising large portions for the construction of the building.

In its early years, Abilene Hall seated 600 for daily chapel, hosted most of the campus’s classes, the school bookstore, and in the basement, the memorabilia, instruments, and music of the Cowboy Band.

It caught fire on February 10, 1947. The loss of a building is never ideal, but the timing of this disaster was particularly hard on the school. We were in the post-war boom. Student enrollment had tripled at this point, due to the G.I. Bill.

What was the school supposed to do without its main academic building? Where would classes take place?

The president opened his home (Compere Hall) to faculty and their classes. University Baptist (located where the Neighborhood Walmart is on Ambler) provided space for students. A temporary structure, named G.I. Hall, was used for classroom space. Late night and weekend classes were also introduced to allow the large number of students to filter through the limited spaces.

Due to its importance on campus, funds were quickly raised and allocated to the construction of a new academic building. Again, the city of Abilene rallied behind the building and raised funds.

A new Abilene Hall was completed in record time; it opened the following year. From 1948 onward it was the powerhouse of the campus for classroom space, especially for the core classes everyone needed to take. No matter one’s major, every student has sat in a lecture of some kind in Abilene Hall.

February 2021 brought a winter event that crippled the state with freezing temperatures, snow, broken pipes, and other hardships. Hardin-Simmons was not immune to this.

While the students enjoyed a week off from class, playing in the snow, Abilene Hall was under duress.

Abilene Hall did not burn to the ground, like she did in 1947, but rather the opposite. She flooded. Broken pipes led to a flooded basement, busted boiler, and ruined electrical.

Like in 1947, the campus was suddenly without its main academic building.

Like in 1947, administration and faculty had to suddenly and creatively rearrange classroom space.

Like in 1947, HSU was limited by class size. Enrollment wasn’t tripled like it was in 1947, instead COVID-19 restrictions limited the number of students that could be allowed in a classroom.

Like in 1947, HSU adapted, carried on, and continued with classes.

Like in 1947, HSU came out on the other side better than before.

Over the past two years, Abilene Hall has been under construction, being retrofitted to house HSU’s engineering program.

An additional 7,000 square feet were added to the building’s southern elevation, resulting in approximately 2,200 square feet per floor. The first floor houses lab space for hands-on learning, while the second floor contains lecture halls, a computer lab, a student lounge, and data center. The third floor will continue to be under construction, as it’s prepared to house HSU’s developing nursing program, scheduled to open in 2025.