James W. “Jim” Wallis (BS ’62; JD ’65) is a proud alumnus of The University of Tulsa, and he and his wife, Patricia Becker “Pat” Wallis, have been loyal and longstanding supporters of university programs.
Mr. and Mrs. Wallis made a significant gift to support the comprehensive renovation of Keplinger Hall, sponsoring the Pat and Jim Wallis Conference Room in the flagship building of the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences.
The couple also endowed a scholarship in the College of Law, hoping to provide perpetual support for the deserving students following in Jim’s footsteps with the James W. Wallis Scholarship in Law. They have also supported the TU Annual Fund for the College of Law, and other scholarships and university programs.
Wallis sustained his relationship with his alma mater by freely sharing his time and expertise as a TU Trustee from 2001-2017, providing sage leadership and guidance while commuting to meetings from his home near Oklahoma City. He left the board in 2017 when he retired and returned to his home state of Arkansas.
In recognition of his loyalty to his alma mater and his extraordinary career achievements, Jim Wallis was named a 2016 Distinguished Alumnus, the highest honor bestowed upon a TU graduate. He and Pat have also been included in the esteemed Circle Society, the President’s Council, and the Chapman Legacy Society.
Jim Wallis’ relationship with TU began when he arrived from Little Rock, Arkansas, thanks to a scholarship he received to attend the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences. Kendallabrum yearbooks from that era show a handsome young man who involved himself in campus life as a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and other organizations related to his major. He graduated with a degree in petroleum engineering and then earned his juris doctor from the TU College of Law.
Wallis served as chairman, president and CEO of ExOK, an Oklahoma City-based energy exploration company. Throughout his career, Mr. Wallis founded or co-founded at least six companies, including Tulsa’s former Western National Bank. Mr. Wallis also held leadership positions with the Oklahoma City Association of Petroleum Landmen, the American Association of Petroleum Landmen, and the Oklahoma City Petroleum Club.
Jim and Pat Wallis also are avid dog rescuers and advocates. The couple produced the 2004 PBS feature “The World of Dogs: Biography Series,” a popular seven-part series that provides an in-depth look at the top breeds and their relationships with humans, funded by the Wallis Foundation. Mrs. Wallis, a former model and actress, was the co-host, and Mr. Wallis was executive producer.
Pat Wallis also hosted an Oklahoma City-area television program (Dog Talk TV) and a radio program (Speak!), both of which provided canine-related advice and information resulting from the family’s experience of finding, fostering and keeping more than 10 dogs at a time in their home over more than 30 years. The family, which includes five children, has participated in canine competitions and worked with therapy dogs. Pat also is an avid horsewoman who used to raise horses and dogs at Fox Lair Farms in Edmond, Oklahoma.
In addition to their enthusiasm for TU, the couple supported several Oklahoma City-based charities, including Integris Baptist Medical Center and its Foundation, for which Jim Wallis served as chairman.
Jim and Pat Wallis have created important opportunities for the students following in Jim’s footsteps at The University of Tulsa. Their generosity will be felt for generations to come thanks to Jim’s namesake scholarship, their support of Keplinger Hall, and their investments in other TU programs. While they now live in Arkansas, their hearts are never far from Oklahoma, where Jim was educated, built a successful career, and where they enjoyed a fulfilling family life.
