Wallace Hamilton Retires Leaves a Legacy of Servant Leadership
Wallace Hamilton will be honored at Homecoming during the Vision 4 Education Banquet (formerly the Feast of Ingathering) for his steadfast service to SCU over the years.
After 27 years of faithful service to Southwestern Christian University, Wallace Hamilton has officially retired from his position as Vice President of Fiscal Affairs and Site Planning, as well as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Hamilton leaves behind a rich legacy of service to the university, as well as, to the International Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Growing up in several areas across Oklahoma, the Hamilton family moved to Oklahoma City when Wallace was 14 years old with the primary purpose of allowing the four Hamilton children to attend Southwestern Bible College. His parents, Alva and Olah (Pryor) Hamilton met in the late 1920s at the Pentecostal Holiness Bible School in Checotah, OK and they strongly supported Christian education.
While attending Southwestern, Wallace met the love of his life, Lavenia (Jackson) Hamilton and they married in December of 1956. Wallace also joined the Naval Re
serve in 1956, and was called on activeduty in 1957. Enlisting as a Seaman Recruit, Wallace remained in the Naval Reserve after being releasefrom active duty in 1959 and retired as a Commander in 1994. He likely was one of the very few
(possibly the only) PH country boy's ever to receive an unrestricted line of commission in the Navy without the benefit of attendance at the Naval Academy or Officer Candidate School.
Before returning to Southwestern, Wallace enjoyed a successful career at the Federal Bureau of Prisons, primarily at the Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno, OK, until his retirement in 1988 after 27 years of service. It was during this time that he gained experience and knowledge of governmental accounting and institutional financial management. After retirement, he was asked to serve as a consultant traveling to numerous institutions to provide assistance in accounting and financial management instruction.
It was while performing these duties that the president of Southwestern Christian University, Ronald Moore, contacted him regarding employment. Dr. Moore readily admitted two things: he needed a lot of help in financial management and he didn’t have much money to offer. After praying over the weekend, Wallace accepted the position of Controller in September 1990.
Wallace Hamilton absorbed himself in the dream of assisting his alma mater in any way possible. He was always grateful for the opportunity to serve and truly believed it was a tremendous privilege to be associated with such a fine institution.
The Hamilton family has been a part of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church for 5 generations. Wallace has attended River of Life (formerly Muse Memorial) Pentecostal Holiness Church since 1951. He and Lavenia raised their children and grandchildren in the church and are very proud and grateful for their religious heritage. He has served on various national committees, as a delegate to regional and national conventions, and a total of 45 years as a deacon, official church board member and elder. The family has been supportive of Southwestern Christian University throughout that time, with both of Wallace’s children attending SCU, as well as four out of his seven grandchildren.
Article by Kaleigh Hamilton Bishop.
Wallace Hamilton will be honored at Homecoming during the Vision 4 Education Banquet (formerly the Feast of Ingathering) for his steadfast service to SCU over the years.
After 27 years of faithful service to Southwestern Christian University, Wallace Hamilton has officially retired from his position as Vice President of Fiscal Affairs and Site Planning, as well as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Hamilton leaves behind a rich legacy of service to the university, as well as, to the International Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Growing up in several areas across Oklahoma, the Hamilton family moved to Oklahoma City when Wallace was 14 years old with the primary purpose of allowing the four Hamilton children to attend Southwestern Bible College. His parents, Alva and Olah (Pryor) Hamilton met in the late 1920s at the Pentecostal Holiness Bible School in Checotah, OK and they strongly supported Christian education.
While attending Southwestern, Wallace met the love of his life, Lavenia (Jackson) Hamilton and they married in December of 1956. Wallace also joined the Naval Re
serve in 1956, and was called on activeduty in 1957. Enlisting as a Seaman Recruit, Wallace remained in the Naval Reserve after being releasefrom active duty in 1959 and retired as a Commander in 1994. He likely was one of the very few
(possibly the only) PH country boy's ever to receive an unrestricted line of commission in the Navy without the benefit of attendance at the Naval Academy or Officer Candidate School.
Before returning to Southwestern, Wallace enjoyed a successful career at the Federal Bureau of Prisons, primarily at the Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno, OK, until his retirement in 1988 after 27 years of service. It was during this time that he gained experience and knowledge of governmental accounting and institutional financial management. After retirement, he was asked to serve as a consultant traveling to numerous institutions to provide assistance in accounting and financial management instruction.
It was while performing these duties that the president of Southwestern Christian University, Ronald Moore, contacted him regarding employment. Dr. Moore readily admitted two things: he needed a lot of help in financial management and he didn’t have much money to offer. After praying over the weekend, Wallace accepted the position of Controller in September 1990.
Wallace Hamilton absorbed himself in the dream of assisting his alma mater in any way possible. He was always grateful for the opportunity to serve and truly believed it was a tremendous privilege to be associated with such a fine institution.
The Hamilton family has been a part of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church for 5 generations. Wallace has attended River of Life (formerly Muse Memorial) Pentecostal Holiness Church since 1951. He and Lavenia raised their children and grandchildren in the church and are very proud and grateful for their religious heritage. He has served on various national committees, as a delegate to regional and national conventions, and a total of 45 years as a deacon, official church board member and elder. The family has been supportive of Southwestern Christian University throughout that time, with both of Wallace’s children attending SCU, as well as four out of his seven grandchildren.
Article by Kaleigh Hamilton Bishop.