Star of the Landscape
Friday, December 17, 2021
Media Contact: Samantha Siler | Communications and Marketing Manager | 405-744-2977 | samantha.siler@okstate.edu
Among the bills and magazines piled high on Lenny Hughes’ desk sat a letter from his alma mater, Oklahoma State University. When he opened the letter, the contents recognized the significance of his 26-year career in landscape architectural design and urban planning.
On Aug. 21, 2021, Hughes walked across a stage in front of peers, alumni, faculty and staff to accept the 2021 OSU Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Distinguished Alumni Award.
“I don’t take it lightly because I know there have been landscape architects and horticulturalists that have come before me,” Hughes said. “It is definitely a distinguished honor.”
Hughes’ body of work is significant and impactful, said Michael Holmes, program director and professor of horticulture and landscape architecture.
“He is known for engaging community members in a way that is respectful and then integrating the citizens’ ideas into his design and planning proposals,” Holmes said.
Hughes started at Halff Associates in the fall of 1995, where he was among three other landscape architects. Throughout his 26-year career, he completed hundreds of projects ranging from urban planning and design to architectural design and has helped grow the company to 70 landscape architects and planners, Hughes said.
Hughes’ successful career has led him to be one of the most reputable landscape architects known throughout the south, especially in Texas, Holmes said.
“Lenny has a strong reputation within this field while still being humble and approachable,” Holmes said.
Eastern Oklahoma State College is where Hughes discovered his passion for taking plants and incorporating them into beautiful designs that not only enriched the spaces they were in and brought happiness to those viewing them, he said.
“In my last class there I was fortunate enough to design a landscape planting plan for a church,” Hughes said. “Truly, that’s what got me excited. Once I knew the plants forward and backward, I was able to put a design into place that would help beautify the church grounds.”
With his knowledge and passion for horticulture, Hughes decided broaden his career path by pursuing a degree in landscape architecture when he transferred to OSU, he said.
Hughes faced many hurdles during college, he said, among them being the only African-American student in the program at the time. Although the situation was difficult, he was able to overcome, he said.
Throughout his time at OSU, it became clear the program was full of highly competitive individuals who later became close friends, he said.
Like many students on the first day of class, Hughes said he was faced with the daunting question: Is this major the right fit for me?
Hughes said he was overwhelmed during his first day in Paul Hsu’s design class. Once class concluded, Hughes told Hsu, “Well, take a good look at me because this is going to be the last time that you see me.”
Hsu took time to engage with Hughes to encourage him to stay in the program and explained how landscape architecture couples design with planning and management, Hsu said.
He told Hughes that if he were to stick with the program, he would make it through.
“I saw the strength of his background but also understood his hesitation in the challenge ahead with art and design,” Hsu said.
Hsu said teachers fill many roles, but most educators are friends and mentors to students. He also added many college educators find student motivation is an important attribute that inspires successful learning.
Little did Hsu know those same ideas would lay the foundation to Hughes’ successful career as a landscape architect. Two simple words — passion and purpose — have helped define Hughes’ time in college and the successful career he has today, he said.
“If you find what makes you happy and apply that to your work, are you truly working?” Hughes asked.
Story By: Kaylee Piatt | Cowboy Journal