Charles McAfee

Early life Charles Francis McAfee was born on December 25, 1932, in Los Angeles, California, to parents Willie Anna (née Brown) and Arthur James McAfee. He served with United States Army from 1953 to 1955, during the end of the Korean War and was sent to Germany. In 1963, McAfee began his own firm in Wichita, Kansas.

McAfee was known for his modernist designs. In 1966, his “convertible” design allowed for flexibility in creating spaces with limited or confined infill lot locations.

In order to build the modular building components, Mc Afee opened a manufacturing plant in 1994 that hired and trained people from the community. McAfee Manufacturing Company, Inc. hired and trained workers from the Wichita area.

In 1976, he served as president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), and is one of NOMA's 45 charter members.

In 2006, McAfee transitioned ownership of his firm to Cheryl Lynn McAfee Mitchell and Charyl Frena McAfee-Duncan, his daughters. McAfee manages the firm's Atlanta office, and McAfee-Duncan directs the Dallas office.

In 2020, the Wichita McAdams Park Pool was renamed the McAfee Pool in his honor.

In addition, McAfee received the Excellence in Architecture honor from Kansas AIA, and the Building Innovation for Homeownership award from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

His archived papers are located at the University of Kansas. Jackson Mortuary (1965), 600 North Main Street, Wichita, Kansas McAdams Park pool (1969), Wichita, Kansas McKnight Art Center (1970), Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas McAdams Park concession stand and restrooms (2016), Wichita, Kansas Oklahoma City School District 89 renovation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Calvary Baptist Church, Wichita, Kansas