Page 47 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2025 - Online Magazine

EXCEPTIONAL SENIORS

Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences - Casey Dunn Photography

Stephen joined MWM Architects in 1990 and still works It is through his work with the LSO that he met his wife
there as a partner. It is in this role that many of his Melissa (who also serves on the LSO board). Melissa,
crowning achievements have taken place. The Tornado he says, has “opened doors on how to live life!” With
Memorial on Ave Q is uniquely his design. It was deeply Melissa, Stephen feels like he is “living in a dream world.”
meaningful to him, as he had personally experienced the
1970 Lubbock Tornado. The project has won multiple
AIA awards. His most notable work might be his role
in helping design the Buddy Holly Hall of Performing
Arts and Sciences—which took seven years from design
to completion. Louise Hopkins Underwood, a founding
member of the Texas Alliance for Education and the Arts,
and the Lubbock Cultural Arts Commission, told Stephen:
“Don’t mess it up!” By the time the Hall was finished,
Louise was no longer with us. Her daughter, Jane Henry,
told Stephen: “Mom would be proud.”

Additionally, Stephen has been part of the design team
for more than twenty buildings on the Tech campus
as well as several at Lubbock Christian University and
Lubbock Christian School—not to mention buildings for
the city of Lubbock, Lubbock ISD, and Frenship ISD. He
designed the Lubbock Citibus Downtown Transfer Plaza,
an addition to the Talkington School for Young Women
Leaders, and is working on the new Lubbock County
Expo Center.

One of the things Stephen loves about Lubbock is that the
people here really care about their community. He gives
back by serving on the boards of several organizations
that are important to him—including Ballet Lubbock and
Women’s Protective Services. He’s been on the Lubbock
Symphony Orchestra (LSO) Board for at least a dozen
years.

Lubbock Senior Link 47