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Media contact:
Phillip Rollfing
979.458.0442
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Preston M.
Geren Auditorium named
Auditorium Name Honors "First
Family"
Of
Texas A&M Architecture
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The new 300-seat auditorium at Texas A&M University’s
College of Architecture’s Langford Architecture Center has
been named to honor Preston M. Geren, the father of Fort Worth
architect Preston M. Geren Jr., an avid supporter of the college
whose family history is deeply tied to the Texas A&M architecture
program.
A member of Texas A&M’s Class of 1945, Geren Jr.’s
links to architectural education at Texas A&M can be traced
back to the program's inception. One hundred years ago last September,
his grandfather, Frederick E. Giesecke, a member of the Class of
1886, established Texas’ first formal architectural education
program at what was then the Agricultural and Mechanical College
of Texas. He also oversaw the design and construction of many of
the most revered buildings still gracing the Texas A&M campus.
Additionally, Geren's father, the auditorium’s namesake,
and uncle, Bertram Giesecke, earned architecture degrees from the
school, in 1912 and 1911, respectively, and went on to establish
successful careers in the profession.
Last summer, Geren honored his family's enduring architectural
legacy at Texas A&M with a major gift endowing the Frederick
E. Giesecke Lecture Series at the College of Architecture. Subsequently,
the college moved to name the auditorium where these lectures will
be held in Geren Sr.'s honor. The Texas A&M University System
Board of Regents approved the name change at its Jan. 27 meeting.
The newly named Preston M. Geren Auditorium was constructed last
year as part of the College of Architecture's $4 million renovations
to the Langford Architecture Center.
"
It is only fitting that we mark a century of architecture education
with a generous gift that will benefit students and faculty for
the next century," said J. Thomas Regan, dean of the College
of Architecture. "This commitment from one of our most distinguished
former students will have a profound impact on the education of
all future generations of Aggie architects."
Geren Jr., like other members of the Class of 1945, entered military
service in 1943. He received the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple
Heart and Silver Star during his service with the 3rd Army in Europe
during WWII. He later completed his architecture studies at Georgia
Tech, but returned to Texas, where he practiced professionally
until retiring in 1984. A statewide leader in the profession, he
served as president of the Texas Society of Architects, president
of TSA's Fort Worth Chapter, chair of the Texas Architectural Foundation
and remains a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
At Texas A&M, Geren served as president of the 12th Man foundation
and served on the five-member Presidential Museum Committee. He
continues to serve on the President's Advisory Council and the
College of Architecture Dean's Advisory Council. In 1998, Geren
was named a member of the College of Architecture's inaugural class
of outstanding former students.
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Preston M. Geren
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