The University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture Hall of Fame recognizes a select number of high-character individuals who have made a significant and lasting positive impact on Gibbs College, its students, staff, faculty, alumni and/or to communities across the globe. The impact may have been, or continues to be, in the form of service and mentorship, sustained professional excellence, and/or advancement and financial support.
Hall of Fame inductees can represent any of the Gibbs College programs. A five-member Nomination Committee is appointed by the dean from a group of recommendations from each advisory board. This committee then chooses the inductees from the list of submitted nominees
Attendance to the event is by special invitation only.
Learn about the three remarkable individuals named to the 2024 Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture Hall of Fame Inductees below.
Charles Robert Goins
Charles Robert Goins, born in Norman, Oklahoma, on July 1, 1929, is a distinguished figure in Oklahoma’s architecture and urban planning communities. A native Oklahoman and veteran of the Korean War, Goins earned both his Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Regional and City Planning degrees from the University of Oklahoma. At the University of Oklahoma, he served nearly five decades in the division of Regional and City Planning and contributed as the interim director of the Institute for Quality Communities. His post-retirement endeavors included teaching roles at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, highlighting his commitment to education and mentorship throughout the state.
Arnold G. “Arn” Henderson
Arnold G. “Arn” Henderson, FAIA was born November 10, 1934, in Oklahoma. He earned degrees in architecture and architectural engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1961 and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University in 1964. He served as Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Illinois from 1964 to 1968; and as Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma for 34 years. In 1996, he was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows for his exceptional work and contribution to the architecture industry and his community. In 2002, he retired as Professor Emeritus of the University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture.
Learn more about Arnold Henderson.
Kenneth Franklin Robson
Kenneth Franklin Robson was born in La Grange, Texas in 1955 to Katherine June Robson and William ‘Bill’ Robson, III. He grew up in Waco, Texas, where his formative years laid the foundation for his future pursuits. Ken’s academic journey led him to Texas A&M University, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in Environmental Design and Construction Management. These achievements propelled him into the construction industry, with career stints in Houston, Phoenix, and Santa Fe. In 1994, he moved to the University of Oklahoma, where he would leave a lasting legacy. Over his 22-year tenure at the Haskell and Irene Lemon Division of Construction Science in the OU Gibbs College of Architecture, Ken served as Division Director for 19 years.
Robert L. Wesley, a pioneering architect and beloved mentor, has died at age 88. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Wesley joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in 1964 and became the firm's first Black partner in 1984. Throughout his career, he contributed to significant architectural projects while maintaining a strong commitment to civic engagement and professional mentorship.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to celebrate a series of recent accomplishments by Dr. Jim Collard, Professor of Practice in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design, whose work continues to shape conversations around Indigenous economic development nationally and internationally.
University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture Dean Hans E. [PA1.1]Butzer returned to one of his most significant works on December 15, joining survivors and past and present board members for the groundbreaking of a $15.8 million expansion of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
