Hedrick, Wyatt C.

Sanguinet and Staats, headquartered in Fort Worth was one of the largest and most influential firms in Texas (1903-1930), best-known for design of steel-framed skyscrapers and transformation of architectural practice from the small studio to large office.

Wyatt C. Hedrick joined the firm (1922), bought it when Sanguinet and Staats retired (1926), continued doing business under his own name, was most active from 1920-1960, at one time the third largest firm in the country, known for moderne style buildings in Fort Worth.

From the description of Sanguinet, Staats and Hedrick Records, 1910-1969. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 27673073

Wyatt Cephus Hedrick was born in 1888 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Hedrick attended college at Roanoke University, and graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1910. He worked as an engineer at Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation in Fort Worth. Hedrick soon opened his own offices in Fort Worth, Houston and Dallas. Employed as an engineer by Lane Brothers of Alta Vista, Virginia, from 1910 to 1913, he took a new job with Stone and Webster Engineering Corporation of Boston as a construction engineer in their Dallas office. Armed with this experience, Hedrick established his own construction company in Fort Worth, from 1914 to 1921. Later, he joined the architectural firm of Sanguinet & Staats, with offices in Fort Worth and Houston. Although he lacked formal training as an architect, Hedrick utilized his on-the-job training to establish his own firm in 1925, with offices in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Houston. Hedrick is known for designing some of the tallest buildings in Fort Worth, such as the Will Rogers Memorial Tower (1936). Several of his buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Although Hedrick's firm became one of the foremost exponents of the Moderne style in Fort Worth, Hedrick completed local commissions in a range of other styles as well. One of his favorite approaches is often referred to as a "stripped-Classical style." Hedrick completed projects in many cities across the nation from the 1920s to the 1950s, often in partnerships with other architects. At one time, Hedrick owned the third-largest architectural firm in the country. Known for his versatility as a designer, Hedrick was an active member in the Texas Society of Architects, the American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Combining an Art Deco exterior with a Southwest "Indian" interior, Hedick designed the Hotel Clovis in Clovis, New Mexico (1930). The hotel is nine stories high with a hundred and fourteen rooms and at the time of its construction, was the tallest building between Albuquerque, New Mexico and Dallas, Texas. The building's pilasters are crowned by seven identical busts of generic Plains "Indian chiefs" with headdresses. Constructed primarily of cement, this building was listed in the State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. According to architectural historian Chris Wilson, it is considered one of the "two or three most important Art Deco or Modernistic buildings erected in New Mexico." Dubbed the "skyscraper of the Plains," investors spared no expense when it came to Hotel Clovis. Built at the height of the Depression, developers were surprisingly optimistic about realizing a profit. Customers were drawn by many features, though, including copper chandeliers embellished with arrows and thunderbird cut-outs that decorated the interior. The building was at once Modern and regional, and boasted the first elevator in southeastern New Mexico. Clovis's first radio station, KICA, was housed in the hotel and Louis Armstrong, Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Hank Williams all performed in the post-Prohibition ballroom. Hotel Clovis closed its doors shortly after the Santa Fe Railroad discontinued passenger train service in 1971. As a result, the ready supply of guests came to a halt. Several plans for restoration have been proposed for this landmark building. Most recently, the New Mexico Environment Department and Governor Bill Richardson made $5,000 in assessment funds available for the redevelopment of the hotel in 2004. After a prolific career as an architect, engineer and businessman, Hedrick died in 1964 from a heart attack. He is buried in Fort Worth. In addition to Hotel Clovis, his legacy includes theaters, universities, military sites, hotels, hospitals and private residences.

From the description of Wyatt C. Hedrick Hotel Clovis (Clovis, N.M.) architectural drawings and plans, 1930. (University of New Mexico-Main Campus). WorldCat record id: 232668918

Wyatt Cephus Hedrick was born in 1888 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Hedrick attended college at Roanoke University, and graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1910. He worked as an engineer at Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation in Fort Worth. Hedrick soon opened his own offices in Fort Worth, Houston and Dallas. Employed as an engineer by Lane Brothers of Alta Vista, Virginia, from 1910 to 1913, he took a new job with Stone and Webster Engineering Corporation of Boston as a construction engineer in their Dallas office. Armed with this experience, Hedrick established his own construction company in Fort Worth, from 1914 to 1921. Later, he joined the architectural firm of Sanguinet & Staats, with offices in Fort Worth and Houston. Although he lacked formal training as an architect, Hedrick utilized his on-the-job training to establish his own firm in 1925, with offices in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Houston. Hedrick is known for designing some of the tallest buildings in Fort Worth, such as the Will Rogers Memorial Tower (1936). Several of his buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Although Hedrick’s firm became one of the foremost exponents of the Moderne style in Fort Worth, Hedrick completed local commissions in a range of other styles as well. One of his favorite approaches is often referred to as a “stripped-Classical style." Hedrick completed projects in many cities across the nation from the 1920s to the 1950s, often in partnerships with other architects. At one time, Hedrick owned the third-largest architectural firm in the country. Known for his versatility as a designer, Hedrick was an active member in the Texas Society of Architects, the American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Collaborating with architect Robert Merrill, Hedrick designed the Hotel Clovis in Clovis, New Mexico (1930). Combining an Art Deco exterior with a Southwest “Indian" interior, this hotel is nine stories high with a hundred and fourteen rooms. At the time of its construction, it was the tallest building between Albuquerque, New Mexico and Dallas, Texas. The building’s pilasters are crowned by seven identical busts of generic Plains “Indian chiefs" with headdresses. Constructed primarily of cement, this building was listed in the State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. According to architectural historian Chris Wilson, it is considered one of the “two or three most important Art Deco or Modernistic buildings erected in New Mexico." Dubbed the “skyscraper of the Plains," investors spared no expense when it came to Hotel Clovis. Built at the height of the Depression, developers were surprisingly optimistic about realizing a profit. Customers were drawn by many features, though, including copper chandeliers embellished with arrows and thunderbird cut-outs that decorated the interior. The building was at once Modern and regional, and boasted the first elevator in Southeastern New Mexico. Clovis’s first radio station, KICA, was housed in the hotel and Louis Armstrong, Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Hank Williams all performed in the post-Prohibition ballroom. Hotel Clovis closed its doors shortly after the Santa Fe Railroad discontinued passenger train service in 1971. As a result, the ready supply of guests came to a halt. Several plans for restoration have been proposed for this landmark building. Most recently, the New Mexico Environment Department and Governor Bill Richardson made $5,000 in assessment funds available for the redevelopment of the hotel in 2004. After a prolific career as an architect, engineer and businessman, Hedrick died in 1964 from a heart attack. He is buried in Fort Worth. In addition to Hotel Clovis, his legacy includes theaters, universities, military sites, hotels, hospitals and private residences.

From the guide to the Wyatt C. Hedrick Hotel Clovis (Clovis, N.M.) Architectural Drawings and Plans, 1930, (University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research)