Bradley E. Place (1920-2015) and his wife, Gwendolyn L. (Johnson) Place (1922-2003), were dedicated educators, each in his or her own way, helping children and young people excel in academics and in life.

Both graduated from North Texas State University in Denton, Texas. Gwendolyn distinguished herself as a lifelong educator in the Texas Public School system and later in the Oklahoma Public School system, where she taught from 1963 until her retirement in 1987.

Brad served in the U.S. Marine Corps, then returned to civilian life and served as a member of The University of Tulsa faculty from 1947 to 1986. He was chairman of the School of Art from 1965 to 1986, and upon his retirement in 1986, he was named professor emeritus. Brad also owned Red Oak Graphics, a Tulsa design firm.

The University named Brad Mr. Homecoming in 1978. His other honors included the Harwelden Award for lifetime achievement, presented by the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa, and the 2003 Governor’s Arts Award recognizing his longstanding contributions to art and education in Oklahoma. Among those contributions, Brad took special pride in the art courses he developed and taught in Oklahoma’s prisons beginning in the 1970s.

Brad and Gwendolyn had three children – sons Brad, Jr., and Ken; and daughter Mary Kay Place (TU Class of 1969).

Friends and colleagues of the former chair of the TU art department initiated this gift in 1974 as an annual scholarship, which was subsequently endowed in 2003 to create a permanent source of funding honoring the Places’ significant contributions to education. This endowment is formally recognized as the Bradley E. and Gwendolyn L. Place Scholarship in Art Endowment Fund.