Elmore, James W.

Founding dean of the Arizona State University College of Architecture.

Dean, College of Architecture, Arizona State University.

James W. Elmore received his B.A. from the University of Nebraska and his M.A. from Columbia University. During World War II he served in Europe as an Army engineer. Following two years in private practice in New York City, he joined a Phoenix firm in 1948. He established the first architecture program in Arizona at Arizona State College in 1949, and the architectural school's 5 year program was accredited in 1961. At times the school was lodged in Engineering and in Fine Arts, but in 1964, the Board of Regents created the College of Architecture with James Elsmore as dean. he remained in that position for 10 years and continued for another decade as professor and counselor. Now retired, he lives in Phoenix. In addtion to his work at ASU, he is known as the father of the Rio Salado project, and is one the planners of Papago Freeway System.