Rupert N. Richardson

Hardin-Simmons University, 1912

Rupert N. Richardson was born near Caddo, Texas, on April 28, 1891. He graduated from Simmons College in 1912 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from the University of Chicago in 1914. He married Pauline Mays in 1915, and they had one son.

Richardson served as high school principal in Cisco and Sweetwater before becoming Professor of History at Simmons College in 1917. During World War I he served as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. Richardson was awarded his Ph.D. from the University of Texas in 1928.

Richardson was a prolific Texas and Western historian. Among his many books were The Comanche Barrier to South Plains Settlement, and Texas: The Lone Star State. He also wrote Famous Are Thy Halls: Hardin-Simmons University As I Have Known It in 1964. Richardson helped to found the West Texas Historical Association in 1924 and served as editor of the organization’s yearbook until his death. Richardson was a member of the Texas State Historical Survey Committee and was instrumental in the Texas historical marker program. He was a fellow of the Texas State Historical Association and served as President of the Southwestern Social Science Association, the Texas Philosophical Society, and the Texas Council of Church Related Colleges and Universities. He was named the 1963 Texas Baptist Elder Statesman.

He was associated with Hardin-Simmons for most of his life. He served as Dean of Students, Vice President, Acting President, and as President from 1945 to 1953. He became President-Emeritus in 1953 and returned to teach in the History Department. The University bestowed an honorary Doctor of Literature degree on Richardson in 1942. In 1950 he was presented the John J. Keeter Award and in 1970 was named as a Distinguished Alumnus. The HSU Library is named in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Richardson. Rupert Richardson died in Abilene on April 14, 1988.

Hardin-Simmons University proudly honors the life of Rupert N. Richardson.