FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In anticipation of what would have been the 97th birthday of Fay Jones, the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design will celebrate the school's namesake on Wednesday, Jan. 31. Birthday cake will be served at 12:30 p.m. in the lobby of Vol Walker Hall on the University of Arkansas campus.

The public is invited to attend and join in the celebration with the school's students, faculty and staff.

Jones, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, was born Jan. 31, 1921, in Pine Bluff and grew up in El Dorado. He later attended the earliest architecture classes offered at the University of Arkansas, in the architecture program founded by John G. Williams. Jones graduated in the first class of architecture students, and eventually returned to teach for 35 years and serve as the school's first dean.

In his professional practice, he designed 135 houses and 15 chapels and churches across the country, but most were in Arkansas. He was a recipient of the American Institute of Architect's highest honor, the AIA Gold Medal. He died Aug. 30, 2004, at age 83. 

For more information, contact 479-575-4704 or fayjones.uark.edu.