The University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture Hall of Fame (GCA HOF) recognizes a select number of high-character individuals who have made a significant and lasting positive impact over time to Gibbs College (GCA), 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. Bruce Wayne McClendon is part of the 2026 Hall of Fame class.
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Bruce Wayne McClendon, FAICP, a University of Oklahoma alumnus, was a distinguished city planner whose career was defined by a commitment to public service and the communities he served. Described by his colleagues as planning’s “ultimate uber-achiever,” McClendon dedicated his professional life to helping communities plan for growth, development and the needs of their residents. Over the course of his career, he led planning programs for cities and counties across the country, including Galveston, Beaumont, Arlington and Fort Worth, Texas; Orange County, Florida, which includes Orlando; Hillsborough County, Florida, which includes Tampa; and Los Angeles County, California.
Rather than pursuing a career in academia, he chose to remain directly engaged in the communities where he believed his experience could have the greatest impact. When he was briefly considered as a potential successor to J. Lee Rodgers as chair of the Regional and City Planning program at the University of Oklahoma, McClendon ultimately decided to remain in professional practice, where he could continue working on the challenges facing communities firsthand.
A prolific writer and respected authority in the planning profession, McClendon authored six books and more than 100 articles published in more than 50 publications. His writing addressed the practical realities of managing planning agencies and advancing effective planning programs, establishing him as a valuable resource for planning professionals.
McClendon’s contributions to the profession extended beyond his work in individual communities. He was the only person to serve two terms as president of the American Planning Association and received the APA’s Distinguished Service Award. He was also a Fellow and charter member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, reflecting the respect he earned from colleagues throughout his career.
McClendon’s connection to the University of Oklahoma began as a student. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri in 1972 before coming to OU, where he received a Master of Regional and City Planning in 1974. His education at OU provided the foundation for a career that would take him from Texas to Florida and California, where he would lead planning efforts for some of the nation’s largest and most complex communities.
While McClendon’s professional accomplishments were extensive, those who knew him also remember him as a devoted husband and father. He and his wife, Marie, raised three sons, all of whom became accomplished baseball players. Their son Tim followed his father into the planning profession and became a planning director.
Tim’s recollection of his father captures both McClendon’s remarkable accomplishments and his down-to-earth personality: “He’s the same guy who somehow wrote six books on planning, but had no idea where the ‘enter’ key was on a keyboard.”
Through decades of public service, professional leadership, scholarship and mentorship, Bruce Wayne McClendon left a lasting mark on the planning profession and on the communities he served. His career exemplifies the impact that thoughtful, dedicated planning professionals can have when they devote their expertise to serving the public.
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. Joseph Edgar Smay is part of the 2025 Hall of Fame class.
Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture congratulates three architecture students who were recognized in the 2026 AIA Dallas Student Design Awards.
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. Raymond W.H. Yeh is part of the 2025 Hall of Fame class.
