Steven Edgar Cook, Jr. (1925-2017), Architect
DBA Steve E. Cook & Associates
Steven Edgar Cook, Jr. was born in Rayville, Louisiana on April 27, 1925, to Irene and Steven Edgar Cook. His father was listed as a truck driver in the 1930 U.S. Census, then for many years was an employee of the U.S. Post office, and served as a leader in his local American Legion Post and scoutmaster. Steve (Jr.) was a Boy Scout before enlisting (while still a teenager) in 1942 in the United States Army Air Corps, earning his "wings" as a Flight Officer (2nd Lt.) in 1945.[7][8] He attended Louisiana State University before marrying Jo Ann Neater in 1946; they had four children. Steve Cook enrolled in the University of Nebraska in 1946 and graduated with his Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1950.[2][3][8][9] Early in his career, he was hired as the full-time superintendent of the construction of Lincoln's Pershing Municipal Auditorium. He was active in professional organizations and in Lincoln's civic life, serving on the Planning Commission, City Council, and County Board between 1967 and 1992. He owned his architectural practice in Lincoln for four decades, retiring in 2000. Steve Cook died in Lincoln in 2017.[9][c]
This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
Contents
[hide]Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Lincoln, Nebraska, 1954-2000
Educational & Professional Associations
1942-1945: 2nd Lt., U. S. Army Air Corps.[2][3][7]
1950: B.A., University of Nebraska, Lincoln.[2]
1951-1954: designer and draftsman, Lincoln Steel Works, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2]
1954: Registered Professional Architect, Nebraska, A-309; December 18, 1954.[1]
1954-1958: with Davis & Wilson, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.[3]
1958-1960: designer, Hemphill & Vierk, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2][3]
1961-2000: architect and owner, Steve E. Cook & Associates, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Honors & Awards
1967-1970: member, City of Lincoln Building Code Study Committee.[5][13]
1967-1971: appointed member, Lincoln/Lancaster County Planning Commission.[13]
1971-1979: elected member, Lincoln City Council.[14][15]
1971: member, Nebraska Association of Soil and Water Districts’ committee on urban affairs.[5]
1971: board of directors, Nebraska Chapter, American Institute of Architects.[5]
1975-1976: first vice president, League of Nebraska Municipalities.[4]
1976-1977: president, League of Nebraska Municipalities.[4]
1988-1992: elected member, Lancaster County Board.[16][17]]
Buildings & Projects
Superintendent of construction, Pershing Municipal Auditorium (1955-1957), 15th & N Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[6][10][b]
Trailways Bus Terminal (1961), 130 N10th St, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2][a] (LC13:C09-146)
Christian Record Building (1963), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][18]
College View Academy (1963), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3]
Union College Ten Year Master Plan (1964), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3]
Administration-Classroom (Dyck) Building (1966-1967), Union College (now Union Adventist University), Lincoln, Nebraska.[19][20]
High Rise Dorm for Men (1966), Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska.[3]
Calvary Cemetery office and equipment facility (1967), 40th & O Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[21]
Lincoln Industrial Complex (1968), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3]
South Ridge Bank (1979), 5555 S. 27th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[22]
Wadlow's Mortuary (1987), 52nd & R Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[23]
Parking garage with retail ground-floor (1988), 14th & O-P Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[24]
Notes
a. In association with H. A. Berry.[2]
b. The design and construction of Pershing Auditorium was a collaboration of four architectural firms, working under the title of Associated Architects; these were Davis & Wilson, Schaumberg & Freeman, Hazen & Robinson, and Fritz Craig. Steve Cook was appointed as the full-time superintendent of construction.[6][10]
c. Steve Cook's obituary in 2017 identified him as "Steven Edward Cook," while his professional licensing documents and AIA directories consistently listed him as "Steven Edgar Cook, Jr." He used "Steve E. Cook & Associates" as the name of his practice and his grave marker at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery also reads "Steve E. Cook." Cook's two sons survived his death at age 92, but did not reside in Lincoln, while his wife and two daughters predeceased him. Apparently the writer of his obituary was misinformed as to his middle name. Consequently, the popular "Ancestry.com" and "Find A Grave" websites also identify him (seemingly mistakenly) as "Steven Edward Cook."[9][11]
References
1. “Professional license results for Steve Edgar Cook, Jr.,” Nebraska State Board of Engineers and Architects Website, accessed April 1, 2003, <http://www.ea.state.ne.us/search/search.cgi>
2. American Institute of Architects, comp., American Architects Directory, Second Ed. (New York: R. R. Bowker Co., 1962), 133, accessed April 4, 2010, http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/1962%20American%20Architects%20Directory.aspx
3. American Institute of Architects, comp., American Architects Directory, Third Ed. (New York: R. R. Bowker Co., 1970), 176, accessed April 4, 2010, http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/1970%20American%20Architects%20Directory.aspx
4. “State’s League of Cities Names Steve Cook Chief,” Lincoln Star (September 25, 1976), 8:1-3.
5. “Two More File for Council,” Lincoln Evening Journal (March 16, 1971).
6. Del Snodgrass, "More Than 15 Firms Had Major Part in Building Structure," Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star (March 10, 1957): 2-E.
7. "Flight Officer Steve E. Cook, Jr...," Richland Beacon-News (Rayville, Louisiana (March 17, 1945), 5.
8. "Mrs. Steven E. Cook, Jr." (wedding announcement), Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (August 14, 1946), 5.
9. "Steven Edward Cook" (obituary), Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (July 19, 2017), B6.
10. "Auditorium Excavating Might Begin Friday," Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (May 5, 1955), 2.
11. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "Steven E. Cook," (returned as "Steve Edward Cook,") [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
12. Ancestry.com. "1930 United States Federal Census," s.v. "Steve E. Cook," [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.
13. "City-County Unit Vacancies Filled," Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (August 11, 1967), 6.
14. "Steve Cook...for City Council" (campaign advertisement), Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (April 2, 1971), 6.
15. "Hospital lease repeal coming up...Appreciation Expressions" (for out-going City Council members), Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (May 13, 1979), 11.
16. "Last-minute files join political race," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (March 12, 1988), 3.
17. "Tussing bests Cook in County Board race," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (November 4, 1992), 15.
18. "The Christian Record Braille Foundation, Inc....Open House Ceremony," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (October 6, 1963), 16 (with rendering and portrait of Cook).
19. "Proposed New...High-Rise Administration-Classroom Building," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (January 9, 1966), 18 (with rendering).
20. "Union College Offering Special Symphony Event," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (March 6, 1966), 17.
21. "Facility Will Be Dedicated," Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (November 4, 1967), 11.
22. "Blending" (illustrated article on South Ridge Bank), Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (July 8, 1979), 37 (with perspective rendering).
23. "Construction to get under way for Wadlow's," Lincoln (Nebraska) Star (October 30, 1987), 4 (with perspective rendering).
24. "Project includes garage," Lincoln (Nebraska) Journal Star (March 16, 1988), 33 (with Robert Hanna rendering).
Page Citation
D. Murphy & E. F. Zimmer, “Steven Edgar Cook, Jr. (1925-2017), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, November 18, 2014; April 13, 2025. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 22, 2025.
Contact the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office with questions or comments concerning this page, including any problems you may have with broken links (see, however, the Disclaimers link at the bottom of this page). Please provide the URL to this page with your inquiry.
