ADA, Okla. – Dr. Gerald Williamson is set to receive East Central University’s inaugural Lifetime Service Award alongside Dr. Shirley Mixon and Becky Isaacs at ECU’s Lifetime Service Banquet on Saturday, March 28 at 6 p.m. in the ECU Foundation Hall, located inside the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center.

Williamson obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Eastern New Mexico University before earning his doctorate at the University of Oklahoma in 1985. He later added to his management expertise by completing a postdoctoral program at the Institute of Educational Management at Harvard University.

Following a stint at Ohio Northern University from 1971 to 1978, Williamson made the move from Ada, Ohio, to Ada, Oklahoma, and began his career at ECU in 1978. He started as an assistant professor of marketing and also served for seven years as an assistant basketball coach.

In 1985, Williamson became Vice President of Student Services, a position he held for two decades. In that role, he was responsible for the development and management of non-classroom programs and services that enhanced the student experience. He oversaw programs including student recruitment, financial aid, veterans’ affairs, single student housing, student government, student exchange and minority programs.

It was in this position that Williamson became deeply engaged with the ECU student community and developed the positive and caring reputation he maintains today.

“In the Vice President’s role, my office door was never closed,” said Williamson. “There was a rule; if any students wanted to see the VP, they were the priority.  It might take a few minutes to finish what was being done when they arrived, but they were next!”

He continued, “Every day that I was on campus, at least one hour was spent with students. There were no meetings, phone calls or appointments. I was going to be with students in their environment. Maybe play practice, a residence hall lounge, intramurals, visiting a student organization or a sporting event, just somewhere in the student’s environment. We referred to this as my “missionary time”.

In 2006, after two decades working closely with ECU students, Williamson became Senior Advancement Officer, where he helped develop a campus master plan and secure funding for the university. He was instrumental in raising the funds that made possible the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center.

In 2007, he officially transitioned from the university to the ECU Foundation, where he continues to serve as Senior Development Officer. In that role, Williamson has continued to play a key part in advancing the university’s growth. Most recently, he helped the university secure $13 million in funding from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) to support completion of the Dan Hays STEM Center and School of Nursing at ECU.

Williamson has also been active in numerous professional organizations. He served 13 years as the Exhibit Coordinator for the Oklahoma Counselor’s Association and received their Distinguished Service Award. He was elected President of the Southwest Association of Student Personnel Administrators and served as President and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Oklahoma College Student Personnel Association, which awarded him its Lifetime Achievement Award. He also served four terms as Chair of the Council on Student Affairs for the Oklahoma State System for Higher Education.

As a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Williamson was honored to have the first minority undergraduate fellowship program student complete the goal of earning a doctoral degree and entering academia, Dr. Richard Carvajal, who will be in attendance at the Lifetime Service Award Banquet.

In 2016, Williamson was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society Hall of Fame. In 2023, he was inducted into the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame for his distinguished service.

Despite his many accomplishments inside and outside of academia, Williamson’s legacy continues to be the mentorship he provided to ECU students. His mentorship extended far beyond their undergraduate years, as he maintained contact with many former students long after graduation.

Any student who knew Williamson during their time at ECU, or knows him now through his work with alumni at the ECU Foundation, is familiar with the phrase he made synonymous with the university and its community — Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger.

To purchase tickets for the ECU Lifetime Service Award Banquet, visit tinyurl.com/33zzw2by. The deadline to purchase tickets is March 11, 2026.

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