1994 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE | ORIS HYDER
Oris Hyder of Johnson City has been named to the Milligan College Athletics Hall of Fame. The Athletics Hall of Fame exists to honor outstanding athletes, coaches and other significant participants in the athletics program of Milligan College.
Hyder is the son of the late Professor and Mrs. Sam J. Hyder of Milligan College, Tennessee. He is a 1937 graduate of Science Hill High School in Johnson City. In 1941, he was awarded a B.S. degree by Milligan College.
During his four years at Milligan, Hyder was a member of the tennis team under Coach Hugh M. Thompson. His first year on the team, Hyder played the number two position, and helped lead his team to a rousing 5-4 victory over the Teacher's College team, now ETSU, who hadn't lost a match for two years. For his remaining three years, Hyder played the number one position on the Milligan tennis team and was undefeated his senior year.
Hyder was also busy off the court, managing the team. He was responsible for arranging the playing schedule and purchasing equipment.
During World War II, Hyder served in the United States Army Air Corps as an air navigation officer. He remained in the reserves following the war and is a retired Colonel in the United States Air Force.
In 1948, Hyder received a J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law. In addition to practicing law in Johnson City, Hyder served in various public offices, including Clerk and Master of the Chancery Court for Washington County; City Judge of Johnson City; Criminal Court Judge of the First Judicial Circuit of Tennessee; Judge on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals; and Delegate in the 1977 Tennessee Constitutional Convention. For nine years, Hyder held the office of President or Chairman of the Board of Directors of First Peoples Bank in Johnson City.
Through the years, Hyder has been active in legal and judicial affairs, having served as President of the Tennessee Judicial Conference, on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Bar Association, and as a member of the Tennessee Mental Health Commission, the Tennessee Law Enforcement Planning Commission, and the Tennessee Court Modernization Commission.
In Johnson City, Hyder has served as an officer and on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Salvation Army Advisory Board, Senior Center Advisory Board, Tipton Haynes Historical Association, Johnson City Kiwanis Club, and the Johnson City Medical Center Hospital.
Hyder has been a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Johnson City since 1949, being active both on the Parish and Diocesan level.
Hyder and his wife, Margaret McKinney, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They reside in Johnson City and are the parents of three children and grandparents of seven.