Wali Caradine, First African-American Graduate of the Fay Jones School, Passes Away

Photo by Karen E. Segrave

Delbra Caradine and the late Wali Caradine Jr. are shown at the John G. Williams Fellowship dinner held in February 2015 at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Wali Caradine Jr., an architect and alumnus of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas, passed away July 10, 2017, in Little Rock. He was 68.

Born in 1949 and raised in West Memphis, Caradine came to the University of Arkansas to study architecture. The fourth of seven children, and the eldest boy, he was the only one in his family to attend college. He graduated in 1974 and was the first African American graduate of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design.

After college, Caradine received additional training at the Construction Management Institute in Dallas. Over the course of his prolific career, Caradine made contributions to both the design and construction industries. He began his career as a designer at Pat Kelley Magruder Architects in West Memphis, before eventually venturing out on his own. His first business, Design and Construction Associates, was founded in 1978 and became one of the largest minority-owned contracting firms in Arkansas.

In the mid-1990s, Caradine returned to his first love — architecture and design. He and Ron Bene' Woods partnered to form Woods Caradine Architects, a relationship that lasted more than a decade. Their notable projects included two academic centers for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the Statehouse Convention Center Expansion in Little Rock. They were associate architects for the William J. Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, which was completed in 2004, with Polshek Partnership Architects (now Ennead Architects) as lead architects. Other associate architects on that project were Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects and WER Architects/Planners.

Another notable project is the Pathfinder Complex in Jacksonville. Pathfinder Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides support services for people with developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs in 13 locations throughout the state. Caradine also served on its board of directors in recent years.

In 2007, Caradine left Woods Caradine Architects to form Caradine & Company, where he practiced until his retirement earlier this year.

Caradine was loved and cherished by all who knew him. His gentle temperament, generosity and concern for others were demonstrated in tangible ways. He served as a mentor to many minority building contractors in Central Arkansas. In 1986, he founded the Arkansas Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors. The organization has African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American members.

In 1998, Caradine joined the John G. Williams Fellowship in the Fay Jones School, a group that honors the founder of the architecture program at the university. Williams also was a dear friend and professor of Caradine's. Caradine also served as a member of the university's Central Arkansas Advisory Committee from 2009-13.

"A distinguished alumnus of the Fay Jones School, Wali Caradine was an architect-leader in so many ways," said Peter MacKeith, dean of the Fay Jones School. "His strength of vision, character and ambition led him from West Memphis to the school, where he gained his professional degree in 1974; his graduation has led the way for subsequent generations of increasingly diverse students in architecture, interior design and landscape architecture. He will be remembered across the state and region for his contributions to the profession and practice of architecture through the design of significant public buildings, and by his committed advocacy of African American architects and contractors."

His former business partner, Ron Woods, said of Caradine, "He was a good architect, a good contractor, a good friend, a good man."

Caradine is survived by his wife, Dr. Delbra Caradine, a son, Reed Caradine, and a daughter, Ashley Caradine.

The family planned a private burial. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Pathfinder Inc., one of Caradine's most cherished organizations. Checks should be made payable to Pathfinder Inc., with "In honor of Wali Caradine, AIA" in the memo line, and sent to P.O. Box 647, Jacksonville, AR 72078.