Arkansas Tech University President Dr. Russell Jones announced during the ATU Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, Feb. 19, that the operating area that assists the institution’s military affiliated students will henceforth be known as the Major General William E. Harmon Office of Veteran Services.
The naming coincides with the re-location of the office, which is coordinated by Shelly Hall, to a larger space on the first floor of Doc Bryan Student Services Center on the ATU campus in Russellville.
“First of all, thank you very much,” said Harmon following the announcement. “I cannot tell you how appreciative I am of such an honor. To have my name associated with the veterans services at this university is something I never expected. There are others more worthy of it, but I really appreciate it. What we should honor today is the veterans services organization at Arkansas Tech. GIs, when they retire, come from a very structured environment. Then they come to Arkansas Tech, and it is less structured. It’s a big transition, and the veterans office takes care of that transition. Shelly (Hall) and her team take them under their wing. It is a huge job, and they are the reason why Arkansas Tech is designated as a Military Friendly School.”
Harmon graduated from what was then known as Arkansas Polytechnic College in 1960. A native of Little Rock, he was a member of the U.S. Army ROTC program, active in the Military Honor Society and an ROTC battle group commander during his time as an undergraduate student.
He was selected Who’s Who at Arkansas Tech during his senior year.
Harmon served on active duty in the U.S. Army from 1960-92. He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army Infantry upon his graduation from Arkansas Tech. He was detailed to U.S. Army Military Intelligence Branch in 1962 and served in military intelligence for the next 30 years.
A veteran of the Vietnam War, Harmon is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
Harmon’s military honors included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Master Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab and the Army Staff Identification Medal.
He was inducted into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame in June 2009.
One year after retiring from the military, Harmon entered the private sector and was chief information officer for Perot Systems in Dallas, Texas, from 1993-98.
He and his wife, Suzanne, returned to Russellville in 1998, and since that time, Harmon’s service to Arkansas Tech has included that of associate vice president for information technology from 1998-2000 and as the William M. Lemley Endowed Chair of Business from 2000-06.
Harmon served as associate vice president for information technology during the time Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center was planned and opened at Arkansas Tech. He provided similar counsel to his alma mater in ensuring that Rothwell Hall featured the best technology possible when it opened in 2010.
Providing opportunities and resources for veterans is another area in which Harmon has made significant contributions to his alma mater.
He advocated for and supported the establishment of the ATU Office of Veteran Services, the ATU student veterans lounge and the ATU U.S. Army ROTC Hall of Honor.
He assisted in the establishment of a Green Zone initiative that better equipped ATU faculty and staff to meet the needs of military-affiliated Arkansas Tech students. He has also remained a steadfast supporter of and advocate for the ATU U.S. Army ROTC program.
Harmon served alongside his wife as honorary co-chairpersons for the Arkansas Tech Centennial Committee. He provided the keynote address at the ATU Centennial Convocation on April 29, 2011, at Tucker Coliseum.
Harmon was also among the speakers at the 25th anniversary of the dedication of Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center on Oct. 30, 2024.
Arkansas Tech bestowed its highest honor upon Harmon when he was inducted into the ATU Hall of Distinction in 1990. He was inducted into the ATU U.S. Army ROTC Hall of Honor as a member of its inaugural class in 2017.
Learn more about the Major General William E. Harmon Office of Veteran Services at www.atu.edu/veterans.
