Charles W. Durham (1918 – April 5, 2008[1]) was a civil engineer, built-environment pioneer, noted philanthropist, and civic leader in Nebraska and Iowa.

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]

Professional life

Durham began work at Henningson Engineering Company for Margre Henningson's father, Henning Henry Henningson, in 1940. Within ten years the company officially changed its name to Henningson, Durham, and Richardson, Inc or HDR, Inc., under Durham's leadership. Durham grew the firm from 15 employees to 1,700 before retiring.[1]

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

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]

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]

Charles W. and Margre H. Durham Distinguished Professor of Information Science and Technology

University of Nebraska Medical Center

Durham Research Center & Durham Research Plaza[9]

Durham Research Center II[9]

The Durham Museum[10]

All references retrieved on May 9, 2008 unless otherwise noted.

  1. 1 2 3 "HDR News, Announcements, Press Releases". Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 "Distinguished Alumni Award".
  3. ↑ "Phi Delta Theta: Iowa Gamma Chapter". Archived from the original on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-05-10.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Omaha.com Metro/Region Section". Archived from the original on 2013-01-31.
  5. ↑ ISU Electrical and Computer Engineering: Department History Archived 2008-04-14 at the Wayback Machine
  6. 1 2 "News".
  7. ↑ "Hoover Hall, Iowa State University". Archived from the original on 2012-08-12. Retrieved 2012-11-05.
  8. ↑ Staff, Gateway (2008-04-11). "Local philanthropist, UNO supporter dies at 90 - Gateway". Gateway. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
  9. 1 2 3 University of Nebraska Foundation : Archived 2006-05-19 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ "The Durham Museum". The Durham Museum. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
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