Van Dorn Hooker

On June 14, 2015, Van Dorn Hooker, 93, joined his beloved wife Marjorie “Peggy” in the great architectural drafting room in the sky. Van Dorn was born in Carthage, TX, and after attending Marshall College (now East Texas Baptist U.), he volunteered in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1943-45, Staff Sergeant, 20th Air Force, while serving as a radio operator in the China-Burma-India and Asia Pacific Theaters. In his spare time, he painted nose art on bombers and drew cartoons for the Army news. After retiring, he wrote his war memoir modestly titled “The War In Which I Did Not Fight.” After the war ended, he met Peggy while both were studying architecture at the University of Texas. They honeymooned in New Mexico, before moving to Berkeley, where Van Dorn studied with Eric Mendelsohn. After returning to NM to practice in Santa Fe, Van Dorn established the firm of McHugh, Hooker, Bradley P. Kidder and Associates. While in private practice he became a noted expert in the restoration of adobe churches for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and served on the Archdiocese’ Building Committee. From 1963-1987, Van Dorn served as University Architect at the University of New Mexico. While at UNM, he was instrumental in assuring that the original pueblo style architecture of John Gaw Meem, an early mentor, was reflected throughout the campus and at satellite campuses including Gallup and Taos Harwood Foundation during the University’s rapid period of growth. In furtherance of the overall campus plan, he brought together the talents of many local and internationally recognized designers, among them George Izenour in theater projects, such as Popejoy Hall, and Garrett Eckbo in landscape design, including the Duck Pond. Other major projects varied from the build out of the North Campus, the Research Park, to the athletic complex, including the Pit and the restoration of Hodgin Hall. He collaborated with William Davis, former President of UNM, in producing “Only in New Mexico” and with Robert Reck, photographer, and V.B. Price in producing a picture book of the campus entitled “The University of New Mexico.” After retiring, Van Dorn was the architectural design consultant for the renovation of the NM State Capitol from 1987-1992, which as a result displays the work of New Mexico artists and craftsmen, including several of his watercolors depicting NM landscapes. Van Dorn also continued his interest in historic preservation and among his many publications, wrote “Centuries of Hands” with Corina Santistevan, on the restoration of St. Francis of Assisi Church at Ranchos de Taos. His interest in history, people and their stories led him to be instrumental in establishing the University Archives. Just recently, he finished a manuscript documenting the history behind the many memorials and monuments, large and small, located throughout the campus with the hope that this would be the first in a series. Van Dorn received many accolades, too numerous to list but including being named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architecture, 1982, and a Fellow of the Association of University Architects, 1984. He received a Silver Medal for Lifetime Achievement from the NM AIA, Western Mountain Region AIA Silver Medal (highest award in 6-state region), and an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from UNM in 2010. To his delight, he was inducted into the Carthage Independent School District Hall of Fame along with the late country western singer Jim Reeves in 2007. Van Dorn was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy; and son, Van Dorn Hooker III. He is survived by his son, John Hooker, also an architect; daughter, Ann (Clarke) and her husband Duncan; and grandchildren, George, Eleanor, Ben, and Theo. The family wishes to thank the staff and caregivers of Home Instead, Dr. Alyson Thal, and many, many others for their generous support. A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 14, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at UNM Alumni Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the NM Architectural Foundation, UNM Foundation, or Humane Society of NM.

Van Dorn Hooker

September 22, 1921 - June 14, 2015