History
On this page, we have the opportunity to publish interesting historical chapter information. We hope you enjoy reading about our chapter history and, if you were there, perhaps it will bring back some memories.
-Dusty Stoabs, Chapter Historian
History Highlights of the Central Oklahoma Chapter:
Known today as the Central Oklahoma Chapter of ASHRAE, the Chapter was originally chartered by Frank Loeffler, Sr. on October 4, 1935 as the “Oklahoma Chapter of the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers” (ASHVE) which was based on the original name for ASHRAE when it was founded in 1895. ASHVE, as a national Society, changed their name to ASHAE in 1954, and then to ASHRAE in 1959 when ASHAE merged with the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers (ASRE).
The Oklahoma Chapter was rechartered in 1965 as the Central Oklahoma Chapter of ASHRAE to help distinguish it from the Northeastern Oklahoma Chapter which serves Tulsa, Oklahoma and surrounding area. The Northeastern Oklahoma Chapter was actually chartered back in 1948, but it took 17 years for the Oklahoma Chapter name overlap to be rectified. When the Oklahoma Chapter was originally chartered, we were the 20th chapter of ASHVE, and were the first chapter in the southwest, now known as Region VIII.
In 1954, when the Society was divided into regions, our chapter agreed to act as a guinea pig and host a trial regional meeting (the type of meeting that today is called the Chapters Regional Conference, or CRC). The meeting was held at the Skirvin hotel on April 14-16, 1955 and attendance numbered 240 from 18 states including the District of Columbia and Canada. Representatives attended from more than half of the Society’s chapters. In hosting this meeting in Oklahoma City, we started a new concept in Society operations.
In 1959-60 we were the first chapter reach its quota in funding the United Engineering Center building at 345 E. 47th Street in New York City, the new home for ASHRAE Society at the time.
In 1967-68, chapter member William J. Collins, Jr. originated the Region VIII Golden Gavel Award, an award that has meant so much to the growth of Region VIII. Ours was the first chapter to win the Golden Gavel. In 1970-71, Society President Frank Bridgers was so impressed with the Golden Gavel concept and its success that he instituted a similar award for the Society, known as the Presidential Award of Excellence (PAOE). Our chapter earned that PAOE award in 1970-71 and has earned it every year since, allowing the Central Oklahoma Chapter to be referred to as an ASHRAE “Premier” chapter.
In October, 1972, Ms. Carolyn Rae Crawford joined our chapter, the first female member of the Central Oklahoma Chapter, and in 1984 she became our first female Chapter President. She was also the first female chapter president in all of Region VIII.
In 1975-76, chapter member William J. Collins, Jr. served as Society President. As of the writing of this history summary, he is the only member of our chapter to serve as Society President.
The Region VIII Chapters Regional Conference for the 1994-95 year in Oklahoma City was intentionally selected by chapter leaders to coincide with the chapter’s 60th Anniversary, as well as the Society’s 100th (Centennial) anniversary. All was properly planned when the terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building occurred a few days before the conference. The welcome party was held from the top of the Liberty Bank Building in downtown Oklahoma City and the remains of the Murrah building could be clearly seen during the evening. Despite that tragedy, the CRC was held successfully.
Speaking of successful CRC’s, on Saturday, April 25, 2015, in Fort Worth, Texas, in front of ASHRAE members who traveled in from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and the country of Mexico, Mr. Joe Sanders, President of the Central Oklahoma Chapter, was presented with the prestigious Golden Gavel; an annual award given to the best overall Chapter in the Region based on an exhaustive set of criteria including membership, donations, programs, activities, communications, and more. An award that has eluded the Central Oklahoma Chapter for the previous 22 years, going back to B.H. Prasad in 1993.
Prior to 1993, the Central Oklahoma Chapter won this award, on average, every 2 years with the longest stretch without winning of only 6 years. The longest winning streak was from 1986 to 1991 when the chapter won the award five straight years in a row.
The Golden Gavel judging committee is taught not only to look at categorical performance taking into account chapter size, but to look for improvement over previous years. The award committee in Fort Worth must have certainly recognized that the Central Oklahoma Chapter experienced a tremendous year from every perspective. There were statistical year-over-year improvements in meeting attendance, research donations, regular membership, and student membership. You can read about the chapter’s accomplishments that year in our history book linked below covering years 2011-2025.
Chapter Charter
Central Oklahoma Chapter History Books
History of Central Oklahoma Chapter 1935-1995
History of Central Oklahoma Chapter 1995-2011
History of Central Oklahoma Chapter 2011-2025
The Life and Times of William J. Collins, Jr.
The Life and Times of Louis C. Nettleship, PE, Refrigeration Engineer
Dr. Faye McQuiston, PE, received the 2016 Lou Flagg Historical Award for authoring the above biography "The Life and Times of William J. Collins, Jr."
Dusty Stoabs, PE, received the 2017 Lou Flagg Historical Award for authoring the above biography "The Life and Times of Louis C. Nettleship, PE, Refrigeration Engineer."
Chapter Honors and Awards History
Central Oklahoma Chapter Honors and Awards
Past Presidents of the Chapter
Recent CRC Summary Reports
HISTORIAN Newsletter Articles GOING BACK TO 2015
Interview with Mr. Joe Sanders
Four Digits Which Will Revolutionize Construction
Over 40 Years of Trying to Encourge Women Into the HVAC&R Industry
Fellow Interview with Dr. Spitler
Interview with Mr. John Semtner
Interview with Mr. Trapper Wilson
History of the Chapter Meeting Name Badges
Interview with Mr. Damon McClure
April 28, 1995 - ASHRAE Day Proclamation
First Ever SouWester Newsletter Article
Interview with Mr. Jeff Forman
Interview with Ms. Madison Schultz
German Chancellor Helps Start Oklahoma Chapter
Interview with Mr. Chris Dolan
Please Update Your Roster Information
Interview with Mr. Caleb Spradlin
Jack Thompson - Friend of Bill Collins
Oklahoma State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers
Interview with Mr. Jon Wilmore
What Happened to the Head Table
Hall of Fame - Dr. Faye McQuiston
Hall of Fame - Bobbie J Vermillion
Interview with Mr. Scott Sanders
Interview with Ms. Stephanie Thomas
Frank X Loeffler Sr - Chapter Founding Member
Interview with Mr. Michael Halcomb
Other Featured Historical Documents
First Ever Sou'Wester Newsletter
August 1972 Letter on Women in ASHRAE
In Remembrance of Dr. Jerald D Parker
In Remembrance of Harry Rountree
In Remembrance of Dr Faye McQuiston
In Remembrance of Tom Determan
State of Oklahoma Proclamation
Chapter Timeline
The Central Oklahoma Chapter has an active Facebook page that serves not only to announce future events, but also as a dynamic Chapter Timeline documenting past events with photos. Our Facebook history timeline goes back to 2010. Be sure to visit our page and click "Like" https://www.facebook.com/ASHRAEcok
