Darrell L. Noe (BA ’65, Geography) had his first tour of The University of Tulsa during a February snowstorm, but the warmth and friendliness of the campus community more than made up for the cold temperatures outside. He was offered a scholarship, and he moved into John Mabee Hall and began his studies in geography the following fall.
Mr. Noe enjoyed his classes at TU, and he especially appreciated the extra care that his advisor, Dr. Baker, took to make sure that he had all of the credits he needed to graduate with a degree in geography, a major that was being phased out at the time. Noe also fondly remembers Dr. Manly Johnson, a talented English professor who helped him develop his writing skills.
Darrell Noe enjoyed a number of extracurricular activities on campus, including the TU Student Association and the Young Republicans. He was tapped for Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society, based on his leadership skills and academic achievements.
As an avid Golden Hurricane sports fan, Noe remembers the TU-Oklahoma State University football game in 1964 as one of the highlights of his TU experience. The crowd was roaring in Skelly Stadium as TU beat Oklahoma State University by a score of 61-14 during the Jerry Rhome era in TU football.
Darrell Noe pursued a graduate degree at The Ohio State University before launching a fulfilling career in city planning, first in Des Moines, Iowa, followed by Fort Worth, Texas, and finally, Aurora, Colorado. He then went to work for American Airlines in customer relations in Fort Worth, Texas, a metropolitan region that has been home to his family for the last five generations.
Mr. Noe feels that his appearance on the “Jeopardy!” television show in 1994 ranks among the top ten experiences of his life, an opportunity that was made possible by his strong ability to memorize facts and figures. His success on the show was undoubtedly strengthened by the knowledge of geography that he gained at TU.
Darrell Noe stays connected to his alma mater through his participation in the Fort Worth/Arlington Chapter of the TU Alumni Association. He also has strengthened his alma mater through the years by making gifts to support the TU Annual Fund and student scholarships, but his 50-year class reunion at The University of Tulsa in 2015 ignited a wish to create a new scholarship fund through an estate gift.
The Darrell L. Noe Endowed Scholarship Fund will provide vital scholarship assistance to future TU students in any major while paying tribute to a loyal and devoted TU alumnus.
