Harry Wilks

Harry T. Wilks was born in Chicago on March 11, 1925; he moved to Hamilton Ohio, his lifelong home, at the age of two. He served four years in the Pacific during WWII and returned to attend Ohio University, Miami University and University of Cincinnati earning a degree in Law. While practicing law in Hamilton, he dedicated himself to improving his community in many large and small ways. He served as the leader of campaigns for the YMCA, United Way, Red Cross, and Easter Seals. He, along with his brothers and sister, renovated St. Raphael Social Service Center in Hamilton in honor of their parents. He was founder of the City of Sculpture Committee and a founding member of the Hamilton Civic Theater. He served on the Cincinnati Opera Board, where he had the same box seats for over 40 years, and funded the Harry T. Wilks Creative Director position. At age 70, he provided a lasting legacy by his founding of Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park on 320 acres which he saved from development and donated to the park. The park, one of the largest in the country, features monumental sculptures set in a park-like setting overlooking the Miami River Valley, and offers many artistic and cultural opportunities to the community.

His legacy at Miami University (Hamilton and Oxford) supports two causes he was especially passionate about, furthering the arts and providing educational opportunity. The Harry T. Wilks Conference Center and Harry T. Wilks Lecture Series were dedicated in Hamilton in 1992. In addition he supports the Wilks Scholarship program which provides approximately 15 scholarships per year at the Miami Hamilton campus, and founded the Harry T. Wilks Leadership Institute at the Oxford campus which develops ethical and transformational leadership and ensures decision making should be based on enduring principles. He also served on Miami’s Board of Trustees. Though he was dedicated to his local community, he travelled extensively; during his lifetime he visited all 7 continents.