Preston Murdoch Geren Jr. (December 16, 1923 – June 12, 2013) was an American architect. A lifelong resident of Fort Worth, Texas, Geren designed or served as associate architect for many of Fort Worth's most notable buildings constructed during his working life. Early life, military service and family Geren was born in Fort Worth in 1923 to architect Preston Geren Sr. and his wife, Linda Giesecke Geren. Linda was the daughter of Preston Sr.'s architecture partner, Frederick Giesecke, a prominent Texas architect who founded the architecture program at Texas A&M University and served as Texas A&M's official campus architect. Geren graduated from Arlington Heights High School and enrolled in Texas A&M's architecture program in 1941. Like many college students during World War II, he interrupted his academic career and entered the U.S. Army in December 1942. He served with distinction in Europe, earning a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart before his discharge as a first lieutenant in 1946. After the war, Geren resumed his architecture studies at Georgia Tech, graduating in 1947. In 1948, he married Shirley Lupton. They had two sons: Charlie Geren, a future Texas state representative, and Preston M. "Pete" Geren III, a future U.S. representative and secretary of the Army. Geren and Lupton divorced in 1953 and he remarried to Colleen Edwards in 1954. He adopted Edwards' son from her first marriage and they had two additional daughters. Professional career In 1947, Geren joined his father's firm, Preston M. Geren Architects and Engineers, becoming a partner in 1949. He took over leadership of the firm after his father's death in 1969. One of his earliest projects was a parish house for St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, where he was a member. During the years when both Gerens worked together, the firm's projects included the Landmark Tower, Arlington Stadium, the Fort Worth Convention Center, Welch Hall at UT Austin, and the Eller O&M Building at Texas A&M. Geren was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1973. Significant work Geren was a major contributor to architecture in Fort Worth and at Texas universities. His firm designed projects at Texas Christian University, the University of Texas Medical Branch, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the University of Texas at Arlington, Texas A&M and several community colleges, as well as buildings in 137 Texas school districts. His practice also included hospital, church, bank and office