Graham Fountain "Jeff" Shannon Jr.

1946 - 2024

Graham "Jeff" Fountain Shannon, Jr., FAIA, former dean of the Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design at the University of Arkansas, passed away on Dec. 30, 2024. Jeff was born on Feb. 25, 1946, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to the late Graham F. Shannon, Sr. and Elisabeth Satterfield Shannon. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Betty Hargis. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 47 years, Carole Klugh Shannon; daughters, Rachel (Tony) Foshe of Fayetteville and Rebecca (Ryan) Webb of Colorado Springs; grandchildren, Haddie, Huck, Peyton and Kaitlyn; and a "grandest child," Izzy Sánchez, a grandchild who chose him. He was also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins, along with many friends and former students that became family.

Jeff's family moved several times within Arkansas before settling in Star City, where he attended junior high school and played basketball and football for the Red Bugs. He graduated high school from Conway High School where he made lifelong friends. After running track for two years at Hendrix College in Conway, Jeff attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where his architectural journey commenced. He received his bachelor of architecture degree, cum laude, in 1970 and spent four months working as a design contributor in the office of E. Fay Jones in Fayetteville. Upon receiving his master of architecture in urban design from Rice University in 1973, he worked at firms in Memphis, Houston, Palm Beach and Little Rock. In 1977, he co-founded and was a principal at Polk Shannon Stanley. Noteworthy projects that Jeff contributed to include the First National Bank of Fayetteville and the more modest but no less brilliant Fayetteville Drug Store.

Despite his success in professional practice, the desire for teaching, for Jeff the necessity to teach, was more compelling. He was drawn back to the University of Arkansas with the promise of only one semester as a visiting professor. Over 40 years later, he remained there to the end of his career in June 2023. A patient and generous teacher, Jeff was committed to finding the best in each of his students, supporting their personal and professional aspirations. His teaching was rigorous but motivated by a gentle humanity in design studio classes that allowed students a process of self-discovery. He also taught an elective class in Urban Form that became a favorite among students and an institution within the architecture curriculum. Even after his retirement in 2023, a collective of students enjoyed virtual sessions with Jeff where he continued sharing his thoughts and analyses of the work of contemporary designers. A member of the University of Arkansas Teaching Academy, Jeff was recognized with numerous awards for his teaching. He was named twice by DesignIntelligence as a Most Admired Educator and as late as 2023 he received the second of his Distinguished Service Medals given by the Fay Jones School. Jeff published a number of works of research, notably tied to the work of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. "The False Bernini of Codex Chigi" is a scholarly paper based upon his close reading of an original sketch that he discovered while visiting the Vatican Library. If there are quiet corners of the afterlife, Jeff has already found one in which to smoke a cigar and commiserate with Bernini and Kahn. Bernini has undoubtedly learned something subtle and significant about one of his own great works.

After serving as interim dean for two years, and following a national search, Jeff was appointed dean of the School of Architecture and remained in this position for another 11 years before returning to his passion of teaching full-time. As a member of the teaching faculty and then as dean, Jeff was a respected role model and mentor to his many colleagues and countless students. The most recognized achievement in his tenure as dean was the renovation of the historic Vol Walker Hall and the major addition of the Steven L. Anderson Design Center, designed by Fayetteville architect and AIA Gold Medalist Marlon Blackwell. Jeff shepherded this transformative project from conception to completion. The award-winning facility allowed design programs to share space and collaborate more closely as the Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design. Jeff was the executive editor and founder of the collaboration between the architecture school and the University of Arkansas Press. During this collaboration, Jeff oversaw and edited nine publications, including the award-winning "Shadow Patterns," a book of essays published to honor the architecture, life and legacy of E. Fay Jones. He also contributed, with David Buege, an essay to the book. Jeff was also instrumental in the development of the University's Rome Center program.

Much of Jeff's life was spent where he wanted to live, on Fayetteville's Mount Sequoyah, doing what he loved, with those he loved and those who loved him. He enjoyed sharing the view from his and Carole's back porch with the many students, colleagues and friends that came by to visit him. He looked forward to his daily chess matches with Carmie Henry, reminiscing with his Sigma Chi fraternity brothers, reading his favorite book (Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove"), watching the Arkansas Razorbacks play and his visits to Arts Place and Village Inn. Jeff had an affinity for walking the streets of Rome, visiting the mountains of Wyoming and his yearly trips with friends to Mt. Nebo. He especially loved spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren who have enjoyed his being home the last couple of years. Every day was spent drinking orange Fanta, completing his daily crossword puzzle and telling the best jokes.

A memorial service for Jeff will be held at Vol Walker Hall on March 1, at 1 p.m.

Disclaimer: This is a condensed version of the 11 page CV that Jeff wanted shared as his obituary… We will have copies for everyone at his memorial service.