Roll Call Tribute

Larry Leon Claycomb 

December 28, 1936 - August 24, 2024 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Mark 12:30

Larry Claycomb, a devoted husband, father, brother, and friend, was called to Heaven on August 24, 2024, where he reunited with his beloved wife, Linda, in eternal peace.

Born in 1936 in Vincennes, Indiana, Larry was the youngest son of six children of Pauline Stafford Claycomb and Cletus Edward Claycomb. In addition to excelling in academics while at Lincoln High School, he was talented in both basketball and cross-country. In 1958, Larry left Indiana to study architecture and engineering at Texas A&M University. After earning his architectural degree in 1962, he continued his education as a graduate student at Princeton University.

Larry’s life truly was changed when he met the love of his life, Linda Cameron, while she was singing in the choir at the First United Methodist Church in Brownsville during his internship with the architectural firm Swanson Hiester Boland. After many dates with Larry hitchhiking back and forth from College Station to Georgetown, Texas where Linda was in college, they married in 1963. The start of something very special.

In 1965, Larry and Linda made their home in Corpus Christi, where Larry’s career continued with Bowman Swanson Hiester. Larry’s hard work paid off when he became a partner in 1969. In 1971, he moved his family to Dallas, as he became the managing director of the firm’s North Texas office, leading the school division.

In 1984, he sold his stock in SHWC, Inc. and founded Claycomb Associates, Architects in Dallas, with a mission to focus solely on “Designing Schools . . . With Kids in Mind!” Over the past 40 years, the firm has earned numerous accolades for its innovative K-12 school designs. Larry served as the architect of record for over 87 different school districts. Under his leadership, Claycomb Associates expanded to Austin and Houston, leaving a lasting legacy on the educational landscape of Texas. Today, his firm has roughly $2.2 billion in school projects currently under progress. In 2019, Larry retired, entrusting the leadership of the firm to his partners, while he and Linda relocated to California to be closer to their eldest daughter.

Larry has been described by his colleagues as tough, direct, and always pushing us to be our best. Yet, beneath that exterior was a man with a sharp sense of humor, who loved a good practical joke and a great encourager. He delighted in seeing people reach for their dreams and looked for ways he could help them achieve them.

Larry’s legacy reaches far beyond the physical structures he built--his true pride and joy lay in his family. Larry was a loving husband, father and grandfather, always there with an encouraging word, a twinkle in his eye, and unwavering support for his daughters Lisa and Laura. For his family and friends, Larry was generous with his time, his talents, his gifts and his service. His love for travel, creating beauty in every home he lived in, and cultivating lush gardens reflected his deep appreciation for life’s art and wonder.

Larry leaves behind a family who adores him: his daughters Lisa Claycomb (Ross Stillwagon) of Long Beach, CA, Laura Claycomb Candeloro (Tullio Candeloro) of Turin, Italy, and his cherished grandchildren Giorgio Benjamin and Tullia Cameron Candeloro. He is also survived by his sister Joan McClellan of Muncie,IN along with many beloved nieces and nephews.

Larry’s love, strength, and laughter will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.