June 29, 1999 - July 2, 2022
Recently, Gibbs College lost one of its own, Construction Science alumnus Braxton G. Byrd. We faculty and staff mourn his passing, and offer condolences to his family. University counseling services are available to all in need: https://www.ou.edu/ucc
Braxton Gage Byrd, 23, of Norman passed away on July 2, 2022. Services will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at McFarlin United Methodist Church, 419 S. University Boulevard, Norman, OK 73069. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at the Nancy O’Brian Center for the Performing Arts, 1801 Stubbeman Ave, Norman, OK 73069. Services are entrusted to Tribute Memorial Care.
Braxton was born on June 29, 1999, to Rick and Dava Byrd in Norman. It was clear from a very early age that Braxton was a fiercely independent child with a knack for convincing people to do things his way. Braxton lived life Big. He lived hard, he loved hard. Born at the end of June and on the beach by August, he spent every summer of his life on the lake. He loved their boat, his “lake crew” and wake surfing. When the summers turned to winter, he traded the water of Lake Eufaula for the snow of the Rocky Mountains. Snow Skiing, night skiing and always as fast as possible down the mountain. There was always a love of music for Braxton, including playing with his friends in a local band “The Lion Bandits”. A more recent passion was NASCAR and attending and enjoying the thrill of the race with his Dad. Braxton grew up in Norman, attending Washington Elementary, Cleveland Elementary, Whittier Middle School and graduating from Norman North High School in 2018. During High School, Braxton fell in love with Olympic Weightlifting, where he qualified and attended multiple junior national championships across the midwest. He graduated from The University of Oklahoma with a degree in Construction Science in May of 2022. While proud of his college degree, he was disappointed with his 3.93 overall GPA because it wasn’t perfect and Braxton was definitely a perfectionist. In June of this year, Braxton began his career with Byrd Building, achieving a dream of joining the family business and working alongside his parents building custom homes.
While at OU, Braxton was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. Braxton was an unconditionally selfless person who went out of his way to bring life and happiness into the lives of everyone he met. Those who knew him remember him by his inclusive spirit. This spirit was met with his actions and he knew how to act in love. He made sure everyone around him knew how important they were, he knew kindness and garnered respect from those around him because of his genuine love and respect for others.
Braxton was preceded in death by his Grandmother, Virginia Byrd; Mama, Sharyl Patten and cousin Conner Lee Russell.
Braxton is survived by his parents, Rick and Dava (Patten) Byrd; Brother, Luke Byrd; the love of his life, Kenna Ingram and puppies Gypsy and Indie; Grandfather, RJ Byrd; PawPaw, Dave Patten; Aunt, Lori Russell and her husband Steve; Aunt, Deborah Hoeksema and her husband Dennis; Uncle, Bobby Byrd and his wife Aimee; Uncle, Jason Byrd; Cousins, Cale, Rylie, Michael, Melissa, Sarah, Hunter, Hayden, Riddick and Trinity.
To offer online condolences, please visit www.tribute.care.
An endowed scholarship fund has been endowed in Braxton's name by his parents, Rick and Dava Byrd. The Braxton Byrd Memorial Scholarship is available to students enrolled in the Construction Science Division of the Gibbs College of Architecture.
To support the scholarship fund, please visit https://link.ou.edu/rememberingbraxton.
Associate Professors Lee Fithian, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Pober have published a chapter in the recently released New Perspectives in Indoor Air Quality, published by Elsevier. Their contribution, titled “Chapter 16 – Architecture and the Challenges of Indoor Air Quality,” examines the relationship between architecture and indoor air quality.
Dr. Ladan Mozaffarian, Assistant Professor of Regional and City Planning, has been selected to serve as Co-Chair of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) Planners of Color Interest Group (POCIG) for the 2025–2027 term.
The Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to recognize Tahsin Tabassum, a recent graduate of the college’s Master of Regional and City Planning program and current doctoral student at the University of California, Irvine, for receiving the prestigious 2024–2025 American Planning Association (APA) Outstanding Student Award.
