Spears Business announces 2025 Hall of Fame inductees

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Media Contact: Stephen Howard | Director of Marketing & Communications | 405-744-4363 | stephen.howard@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business will induct Craig Boelte, Dr. Lee Manzer and Suzanne Wade into its Hall of Fame on Oct. 10 at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center.

Established in 1964, the Spears Business Hall of Fame recognizes graduates and friends of the business school who have demonstrated leadership in their professions and a strong commitment to the college. Hall of Fame induction is the highest honor Spears Business can bestow.

“It is a pleasure to honor three outstanding individuals in Craig Boelte, Dr. Lee Manzer and Suzanne Wade, each of whom have distinguished themselves over their careers,” said Dr. Jim Payne, Spears Business dean. “This year’s honorees have certainly brought distinction to Spears Business and OSU.”

The banquet will also feature the presentation of Outstanding Young Alumni awards to Lucas Elwell, Aaron Sizemore and Brittany Sizemore. 

Craig Boelte, ’85, ’86

Boelte served as Paycom’s chief financial officer for 19 years. He has more than 36 years of experience spanning accounting, human resources and workforce management.

Raised on a family farm in southwest Oklahoma, Boelte graduated from Lone Wolf High School. He then earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1985 and his master’s in accounting in 1986, both from OSU. He worked as a graduate assistant for Dr. Lanny Chasteen, who helped shape Boelte as a business leader.

After graduation, Boelte spent nine years at Deloitte & Touche, achieving the position of senior tax manager. He also started his own accounting practice before joining Paycom, a prominent online payroll services and HR software solutions firm headquartered in Oklahoma City. Boelte played an instrumental role in Paycom’s growth and financial success, helping take the company public in 2014. 

In 2016, The Journal Record recognized Boelte with the Financial Stewardship Award. In 2019, he was inducted into OSU’s Wilton T. Anderson Hall of Fame for School of Accounting alumni and supporters. 

Boelte and his wife, Paula, established the Craig and Paula Boelte Scholarship in Accounting for Spears Business students and named the Boelte Family Tack Room in the Business Building. He was elected as an OSU Foundation trustee in 2024.

A member of the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of CPAs, Boelte sits on the Board of Directors for Kirkpatrick Bank. He is also an advocate for the arts, formerly serving on the board of Allied Arts, a nonprofit supporting arts organizations across Oklahoma.

The Boeltes are moving to Rogers, Arkansas, to spend more time with their son, Hunter, and his family. Hunter is married to Jordan, and they have a daughter, also named Hunter. 

Dr. Lee Manzer, ’65, ’66, ’74

Manzer, Professor Emeritus of Marketing at OSU, taught for 42 years as a Spears Business faculty member. A nationally recognized service implementation expert, he has delivered presentations to tens of thousands of students and industry professionals. 

Born in Fresno, California, and raised primarily in Hominy, Oklahoma, Manzer holds three OSU degrees. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1965, his MBA in 1966 and his Ph.D. in marketing with economics and finance minors in 1974. Manzer met his wife, the late Saundra DeVore Manzer, at OSU.

He gained industry experience as a chemist, sales representative and marketing research assistant for The Dow Chemical Company in Michigan. While working toward his doctorate, Manzer taught Spears Business courses as an instructor of marketing. He had a brief stint as an assistant professor of marketing at Memphis State University before returning in 1975 to OSU, where he held numerous leadership positions until his 2018 retirement. 

Manzer’s roles included professor, marketing department head, director of graduate studies, program coordinator, business extension. He received many academic awards, including Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame induction in 2010 and OSU’s Loyal and True Award for lifelong service in 2013. Manzer was also featured in “Spears School Tributes: 100 For 100” on the business school’s 2014 centennial anniversary.

Manzer has presented a myriad of programs to educational institutions and associations, financial institutions, industrial and retail companies, government and health agencies, energy corporations and public audiences. 

He continues to support OSU business students as an honorary member of the Marketing Academy at Spears. Manzer, who lives in Stillwater, also spent 33 years as OSU’s official basketball scorekeeper and 23 years keeping official statistics for Cowboy football. 

The Manzers’ three grown children, Britton, Bryndon and Brandye, are OSU alumni. 

Suzanne Wade, ’77

Wade’s retail career spans over 40 years. While she started as a sales clerk during high school and college, her career culminated with senior executive positions at Walmart and H-E-B. 

Raised in Holdenville, Oklahoma, Wade graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from OSU in 1977. She also completed the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program and obtained her MBA from the University of Oklahoma. Early in her career, Wade taught fashion merchandising at Oklahoma City-area high schools. 

She was recruited to corporate training opportunities, first at TG&Y Stores and then at Walmart, where she launched the Walton Institute of Retailing. Wade spent 11 years at Walmart, serving as Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Senior Vice President of Membership, Marketing and Administration for Sam’s Club. In 1992, the Personnel Journal recognized her as a Top 20 HR Executive.

In 1997, Wade joined H-E-B, an expansive Texas-based supermarket chain. She held leadership positions in sales and advertising, H-E-B Own Brand and human resources. However, for most of her H-E-B career, she led the company’s largest operating division as President of San Antonio Food/Drug Stores, encompassing more than 200 stores. 

Wade has received awards from the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame, San Antonio American Heart Association, San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, San Antonio Girl Scouts and Women United. She also won the H-E-B Fully Clingman Leadership Award. 

She has invested in OSU through the Suzanne Allford Wade Endowed Scholarship and her membership in the Women for OSU Council. With an extensive history of community service, she currently serves on the San Antonio Area Foundation Board and chairs The Young Women’s Leadership Academy Advisory Board. 

Wade has two stepdaughters and four grandchildren with her husband, Dick Wade. 

Visit the Spears Business website to learn more about the Hall of Fame, including past inductees.