Dr. Bill Hardgrave of Memphis, Tenn., and Charles “Chuck” Gordon of Russellville have been selected for the highest honor Arkansas Tech University may bestow upon an individual.
They will be inducted into the ATU Hall of Distinction during spring 2026 commencement this May in Russellville. Their induction was approved by the ATU Board of Trustees during its regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 19.
Hardgrave will enter under the Distinguished Alumnus category. Gordon will be inducted under the Distinguished Service category.
Dr. Bill Hardgrave
Hardgrave serves as president at the University of Memphis. He was appointed to the position by the University of Memphis Board of Trustees on Nov. 9, 2021, and his tenure began on April 1, 2022.
Under his leadership, the University of Memphis has maintained its distinction as a Carnegie R1 institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Founded in 1912, the University of Memphis has an enrollment of 19,652 students, a workforce of 2,500 employees — including more than 1,000 full-time faculty members — and an annual operating budget of $478 million.
Hardgrave grew up in the rural Johnson County, Ark., community of Hunt. He became a first-generation high school graduate among a class of 23 seniors at Hartman High School, attended Arkansas Tech University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science in 1987.
After earning his Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in computer information systems from Missouri State University and his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Oklahoma State University, Hardgrave joined the faculty at the University of Arkansas. Over the span of 17 years in Fayetteville, he established and directed the University of Arkansas RFID Research Center (2005-10) and was the Bradberry Chair in Information Systems in the Sam M. Walton College of Business (2001-10).
Hardgrave went on to serve as dean of the Harbert College of Business (2010-17) and provost and senior vice president for academic affairs (2018-22) at Auburn University before taking office as the 13th president at the University of Memphis.
Charles “Chuck” Gordon
Gordon knows what it means to live in and be an active participant in a college town.
When he opened his brokerage office in Russellville in 1973, he soon immersed himself in supporting Arkansas Tech with his presence and his resources.
Gordon is a member of the Heritage Society through the ATU Foundation and the Green and Gold support organization for Arkansas Tech intercollegiate athletics.
He has spent many a day and evening cheering for the Wonder Boys and the Golden Suns on campus and in athletic venues throughout the region. To borrow from the words in his ATU Hall of Distinction nomination, Gordon has never hesitated, when necessary, to offer “free guidance and instruction” to those officiating the games.
Gordon has served two terms on the ATU Foundation Board of Directors. Through his service to the Rotary Club of Russellville, Gordon helped create a reciprocal nursing program between Arkansas Tech and Clarke International University in Uganda. The partnership was forged in collaboration with ATU alumna Dr. Rose Clarke Nanyonga, a 2020 ATU Hall of Distinction inductee.
A past recipient of the Russellville Citizen of the Year award, Gordon is wealth advisor and partner at Four Corners Wealth and operates out of the organization’s Russellville office.
About the ATU Hall of Distinction
Established in 1964, the Arkansas Tech Hall of Distinction recognizes the accomplishments of Arkansas Tech alumni and friends in five categories: Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna, Distinguished Alumni Service, Outstanding Young Alumnus/Alumna, Distinction in Intercollegiate Athletics and Distinguished Service (non-alumnus).
Nominations for the Arkansas Tech Hall of Distinction may be made by any graduate of Arkansas Tech, any current or former member of the faculty or administration of Tech, any currently enrolled full-time student at Tech or any member of the Hall of Distinction. Nominations may not be made by a family member of the nominee.
The nomination deadline is Oct. 1 of each year. Honorees are selected by the ATU Board of Trustees.
No incumbent member of the Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees, faculty, staff or administration is eligible for nomination for any category of the Hall of Distinction.
For more information about nominating an individual for the Arkansas Tech Hall of Distinction, visit www.atualumni.com, call (479) 968-0242 or send e-mail to alumni@atu.edu.
