Identity area
Type of entity
Person
Authorized form of name
Stripling, Raiford L., 1910-1990
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Description area
Dates of existence
History
Raiford Leak Stripling was born November 23, 1910 in San Augustine. As a child, Stripling enjoyed many activities, showing a distinct artistic talent early on in his life. He did not express an initial interest in becoming an architect until after a trip at the age of 13 to the Chicago Livestock Exhibition in Chicago, Illinois where he was surrounded by many exceptional examples of architecture. Once returned to San Augustine, Stripling set his sights on that career path and graduated high school as the salutatorian of his class. In the fall of 1927, Raiford L. Stripling enrolled as a freshman in the department of architecture at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.
Raiford’s first two years were spent in a mix of military and artistic training. He was a member of the Corps of Cadets C Company infantry with quarters in Leggett Hall on the A&M campus. After two years and considerable company mischief, Stripling was advised that he would not be recommended for advancement in the ROTC program. He moved off of campus and continued his studies in architecture.
Under the guidance of Samuel Charles Phelps Vosper and Ernest Langford, two distinguished faculty members in the department of architecture, Raiford was schooled in the Beaux Arts tradition. Beaux Art training provided an architectural education with a strong basis in classical design, rigorous attention to fine detailing, and sound construction methods.
Immediately after graduation he worked with College Architect Frederick E. Giesecke and staff architect Samuel Charles Phelps Vosper. Stripling later spent some time working for the National Park Service in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with NPS staff member Charles E. Peterson, an opportunity that introduced him to the analytical examination of vernacular and religious historic architecture. Following the outbreak of WWII, Stripling worked with then Lt. Cmdr. Peterson in the camouflage unit at the Washington Navy Yards. In 1947 Stripling opened his own practice in his hometown of San Augustine, Texas. Over the course of his career he worked on some of Texas’ most significant restoration projects, as well as many single family residences, banks, churches, and schools. He was very involved in consultation work, and traveled often to provide his services and knowledge. In the latter years of the practice he was joined by his son, Ray, who continues to work in the area, often on projects started by his father.
In 1990 Raiford L. Stripling passed away, leaving behind a body of work that will contribute significantly to the fields of architecture and architectural history for many years to come.