John Hulon Bryant, 68, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010, at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, following a severe head injury sustained as the result of a fall from a ladder.

A memorial service was held on Feb. 12, 2010 at First United Methodist Church in Stillwater, Okla. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

John was born on April 30, 1941, in Oklahoma City, Okla. to Glenn H. and Bernice Cochran Bryant. John grew up in Stillwater, graduating from Stillwater High School in 1959. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1964 with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, and earned a Master’s degree from The University of Illinois in 1968.

John married Linda Sue Carhart, of Scottsdale, Arizona, on January 30, 1964. John and Linda raised one daughter, Mary Ellen.

Following graduation, John was employed as a professional architect at The Benham Group in Oklahoma City. But his true passion was teaching. In 1970, he was hired as a Regents Professor of Architecture at Auburn University, where he taught until 1976.

Following that, John was awarded the distinct honor of a Senior Fulbright Research Scholarship. Herewith, John, Linda, and Mary Ellen spent a year in Japan, where John researched and photographed ancient Japanese architecture. This research became the foundation for his later specialization in teaching Non-Western Architecture classes at Oklahoma State University.

After his year in Japan, John was hired by Oklahoma State University as Head of the School of Architecture, a job he held from 1977 until 1985.

During his tenure as Head, John made two trips to China as a member of a delegation of U.S. Architectural Educators. They were asked to facilitate the re-establishment of schools of architecture when that country re-opened relations with the West.

Following his time as Head, John served as a professor, teaching Design Studio and Non-Western and Japanese Architecture, the latter of which was frequently voted as “Favorite Class” by the students he loved so much. He retired from teaching in 2000.

In 1997, John was chosen as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

John not only loved to teach, he loved to learn. His adolescent hobby of shortwave radio listening led to a lifetime of radio study, and eventual expertise. John was internationally known as a radio antenna designer and tester. His standards were high, and he was never satisfied. John had a great interest in the history of radio, as well. He co-authored four books on the history of the Zenith Radio Corporation with his dear friend, Harold Cones.

He and Harold also co-authored the book Dangerous Crossings, and account of the first modern polar expedition in 1925, in which radios and airplanes were first used in the far north.

From 1988 to 1992, John self-published six annual editions of Proceedings, a compilation of articles written by short-wave radio enthusiasts, sharing their expertise about this unusual and technically complicated hobby.

In 1986, John and Linda vacationed in the San Juan Islands in Washington State. They loved the area so much, they eventually bought property for a second home, which they designed and built themselves over the course of several years, the ultimate do-it-yourself project.

Of all his many and diverse interests, John was most passionate about his role as both an educator and advocate for his students.

John is survived by his wife of 46 years, Linda, of Stillwater, Oklahoma and Orcas Island, Washington, daughter Mary Ellen Nesser, her husband Noel Nesser, and grandchildren Katherine and Charles Nesser, of Fort Worth, Texas.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Endowment fund at First United Methodist Church, 400 W. 7th St., Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Condolences may be e-mailed to the family and an online obituary may be viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com.

Submitted by John Bryant’s family.