GAROLD OBERLENDER
After graduation I went to Oklahoma State University and completed my BS and MS in Civil Engineering. While at OSU my wife, Jana, and I were married. Upon graduation we moved to Texas where I worked as a structural engineer. While in Texas I also completed my Ph.D in Civil Engineering at the University of Texas-Arlington. Although it was not planned we moved back to Oklahoma in 1974 when I accepted a faculty position at OSU. I retired from OSU after 35 years on the faculty of Civil Engineering.
My wife, Jana, and I were married as we both completed our bachelors’ degrees at OSU and will celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary this fall. We have 3 sons; a school teacher in Grapevine, Texas, a civil engineer in Irving, Texas, and an urban planner for the City of New York. Our first grand-daughter was born in 2009. It has been different, but nice, to have a girl in the family after raising 3 boys.
I have had a very enjoyable career and family life. My earlier years involved the practice of engineering in the electrical power and petro-chemical industries. My academic career was balanced between teaching and research, especially working with students. In recent years my time has been occupied in writing textbooks. I have 3 books published by McGraw-Hill, each with multiple editions and translations into Chinese.
The past 4 years we have enjoyed our log home, which we had built near Covington, Oklahoma. It is located next to a pond full of fish and surrounded with lots of wild life. We spend time at the log home and in Stillwater. Jana and I have also enjoyed traveling in our motor home. Now that I am retired I hope to spend more time with my earlier hobby of cars, my 1970 corvette and 1930 Model A Ford.
Unfortunately I have not done a good job of keeping contact with classmates since our graduation. I wish all of our EHS60 graduates the very best in life.
Garold Oberlender