Chuck Durham
Charles W. Durham (1918 – April 5, 2008) 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) 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. 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 Durham was a  student under John Vincent Atanasoff, who along with his graduate assistant Clifford Berry, invented the world's first electronic digital computer. 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. Durham also founded and ran the firm Durham Resources until his death in 2008 Philanthropic and Civic Achievements. Iowa State University Distinguished Alumni Award 1992 Director of  the Panama Canal Co. Director the U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and Director of Chief Executives Organization President and National Director of the Nebraska Society of Professional Engineers Board Chairman of the Mid-America Council of Boy Scouts of America Named Donations. Iowa State University The Charles W. Durham and Marge Henningson Durham Center for Computation and Communication Durham Great Hall, Iowa State Memorial Union H.H. Henningson Plaza (next to Howe Hall) donated by Durham in honor of his father-in-law Durham Visualization Laboratory University of Nebraska Omaha Durham Science Center Charles W. Durham School of Architectural Engineering and  Construction Charles W. and Margre H. Durham Distinguished Professor of Information Science and Technology University of Nebraska Medical Center Durham Research Center & Durham Research Plaza Durham Research Center II The Durham Museum Notes & External Links. All references retrieved on May 9, 2008 unless otherwise noted.