Schaefer History Excerpt: Robert Schaefer

Robert “Bob” Jules Schaefer was born in 1925 in Wichita, Kansas, to his parents, Catherine and J. Earl Schaefer — the latter of whom was an incredibly influential business leader in the Air Capital, helping to shape Wichita’s aviation history throughout his career at Boeing. That is a story for another time, though.

Robert, who was often fondly referred to by friends as “Schaef,” attended Wichita East High School in his early education, followed by Kemper Military School, where he eventually graduated in 1943.  Schaef joined the United States Air Force and served nobly in World War II as a P-51 pilot and instructor. After the war, he attended and then graduated in 1949 from the University of Illinois (UIUC), receiving a degree in Architectural Engineering. Afterward, he furthered his education with graduate-level architectural design classes, refining the craft that would forge and endure his namesake long after he was gone.

While attending college, Schaef met and married Yvonne Wooley, with whom he would go on to have three children. Shortly after graduating from UIUC, in 1950, they decided to move back to his hometown of Wichita, where he began working as an associate at the local architecture firm, Schmidt, McVay, & Peddle. A year later, he joined the notable Wichita architecture firm of Ramey & Himes, where he worked as Chief Designer. He would continue to work there until he and fellow Ramey & Himes associate Henry Schirmer eventually formed their own firm in 1957.

During his time at Ramey & Himes, Bob helped to nurture a fruitful relationship with Wichita University (WU), particularly during the design and construction of their Campus Activity Center, now known as the Rhatigan Center. The connection he formed with WU, and then Wichita State University (WSU), flourished during this time. When Bob and Henry struck off on their own later that decade to form Schaefer & Schirmer Architects, they maintained their relationship with the prominent school.  Under Bob’s leadership, the firm would go on to design significant campus buildings over the decades for WSU, most notably, Grace Memorial Chapel, Jabara Hall, Wallace Hall, Ablah Library, Eck Stadium, and the Steve Clark YMCA. And so began the 68-year journey of design excellence that continues in his name today.

Bob dedicated much of his life to improving the Wichita community. Like his father, he served as a leader in the Wichita Chamber of Commerce, and he was an active participant in many civic and professional organizations, such as the Downtown Rotary and the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Licensed as both an architect and an engineer in multiple states, Bob was honored in 1981 as a Fellow of the AIA (FAIA) — one of the profession’s highest distinctions. His service extended beyond architecture, though, as he was strong in faith and served as an elder of Eastminster Presbyterian Church. As a testament to this, he traveled to Guatemala in 1976 to help design and construct simple frame structures to replace churches damaged by an earthquake.

In the early 1990s, Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and went on to retire from his position at his namesake firm in 1993, stepping back into a consultant role. In 2006, at the age of 81, he passed away from Parkinson’s disease. Bob was highly respected for his professional achievements, his kindness, and his commitment to his community. Al Higdon, founder of Sullivan Higdon Sink (now Signal Theory), called him “a consummate gentleman” and “adroit in his field.” Former business partner and longtime associate Sam Frey remembered him simply as “just one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met.”

Robert Schaefer’s legacy lives on not only in the buildings that he and his firm designed but also in the spirit of mentorship, integrity, and service that he embodied. His work reminds us that architecture is more than walls and roofs: it is a framework for community, a record of care, and a testament to vision. In honoring Schaef, we remember that, indeed,
“we are making history every day—so let us make it excellent.”