Charles W. "Chuck" Durham

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Charles W. "Chuck" Durham (died April 5, 2008 at the age of 90[1]) was a civil engineer, built-environment pioneer, noted philanthropist, and civic leader in Iowa and Nebraska.

Contents

[edit] College Life

Durham earned three degrees from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa (G.E. '39; C.E. '40; PD '45[2]) before moving to Omaha, Nebraska to join his college sweetheart, the former Margre Henningson, and beginning his professional life as an engineer with Henningson Engineering Company. [1]

While a student at Iowa State, Durham was a member of the Iowa Gamma chapter of Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity. He was initiated as Bond 274[3]

Durham was a student under John Vincent Atanasoff, who along with his graduate assistant Clifford Berry, invented the world's first electronic digital computer [2].

[edit] Professional Life

Durham began work at Henningson Engineering Company for Margre Henningson's father, H.H., in 1940. Within ten years the company officially changed it's name to Henningson, Durham, and Richardson, Inc or HDR, Inc, under Durham's leadership. Durham grew the firm from 15 employees to 17,000 before retiring.[1]

Durham also founded and ran the firm Durham Resources until his death in 2008 [4]

[edit] Philanthropic and Civic Achievements

Iowa State University Distinguished Alumni Award 1992[2]

Director of the Panama Canal Co.[4]

Director the U.S. Chamber of Commerce[4]

President and Director of Chief Executives Organization[4]

President and National Director of the Nebraska Society of Professional Engineers [4]

Board Chairman of the Mid-America Council of Boy Scouts of America[4]

[edit] Named Donations

Iowa State University

The Charles W. Durham and Marge Henningson Durham Center for Computation and Communication[5]

Durham Great Hall, Iowa State Memorial Union [6]

H.H. Henningson Plaza (next to Howe Hall) donated by Durham in honor of his father-in-law[6]

Durham Visualization Laboratory[7]

University of Nebraska Omaha

Durham Science Center[8]

Charles W. Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction[9]

University of Nebraska Medical Center

Durham Research Center & Durham Research Plaza[9]

Durham Research Center II[9]

Durham Western Heritage Museum[10]

[edit] Notes & External Links

All references retrieved on May 09, 2008 unless otherwise noted.

  1. ^ a b c HDR News, Announcements, Press Releases
  2. ^ a b c Distinguished Alumni Award
  3. ^ Phi Delta Theta: Iowa Gamma Chapter
  4. ^ a b c d e f Omaha.com Metro/Region Section
  5. ^ ISU Electrical and Computer Engineering: Department History
  6. ^ a b >http://www.foundation.iastate.edu/site/DocServer?docID=162
  7. ^ Campaign Iowa State: Isu College Of Design Dedicates New Auditorium, Other Improvements
  8. ^ Local philanthropist, UNO supporter dies at 90 - News
  9. ^ a b c University of Nebraska Foundation :
  10. ^ The Durham Museum - Renovation