His name already is scattered on buildings across Omaha — in honor of his generous philanthropic nature.
Now, Charles Durham’s face has made history as the 87th individual to be honored with the Omaha Press Club’s most prestigious award — “The Face on the Barroom Floor.”
During a ceremony Tuesday, Durham, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Durham Resources, joined a distinguished group of past honorees including Gerald Ford, Bob Devaney, Warren Buffett and Tom Osborne, as well as a host of notable mayors, politicians and media personalities.
“Only once in a lifetime do you ever get to meet somebody like Chuck Durham,” said UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D. “(Beverly and I) are really, really delighted that we’ve had this opportunity to be your friend Chuck.”
Following a vintage roast, Omaha artist Jim Horan Tuesday unveiled the caricature of Durham and his late wife Margre with a few of their many contributions to the community: To include all of them, Horan said, would have taken a “wall mural.”
Durham has been a generous supporter of UNMC contributing financial resources to the Research Center of Excellence and new employee parking garage, currently under construction. He also has made contributions to the Durham Outpatient Center and to advance the areas of prostate cancer research, arthritis and minimally invasive surgery, including the purchase of a computer-assisted surgical equipment affectionately known as “Chuck.”
His reach into the community stretches from the University of Nebraska at Omaha Durham Science Building and the Durham Western Heritage Museum to the Henry Doorly Zoo’s Treetop Restaurant and the Nebraska Humane Society.
“Chuck has been a friend and great partner in trying to make some positive things happen for many of our charitable and educational institutions,” said Walter Scott, chairman of Level 3 Communications Inc. “He’s left footprints in the community and his legacy will be felt for decades to come.”
“Chuck Durham is a role model for all of us to admire,” said Mike Yanney, chairman and CEO of America First Companies. “His success in business is well acknowledged especially in architecture and engineering business as well as the nursing home business.”
“The HDR success story is there for everyone to see and to admire,” said C.R. (Bob) Bell, vice president for business and community development for UneMed Corp. and former president of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. “Chuck will say success comes with hard work, blind luck and a little bit of both. In truth as an entrepreneur you make your own luck. We Omahans are lucky because Chuck you were lucky.”
During a 45-minute roast, Dr. Maurer, Scott, Yanney and Bell recognized Durham’s philanthropy, as well as shared entertaining personal stories of Durham that poked fun of his athletic ability, his rags-to-riches story, his age (84 1/2) and his modesty.
Said Dr. Maurer: “Chuck is an extremely modest guy. He went to see Dr. (Mike) Sorrell in the outpatient department and the receptionist innocently says to him “What’ s your name?” Chuck looks up at her and says ‘my name is on the building.’ ”
Durham’s caricature will be displayed on the Press Club floor until the next inductee’s caricature is unveiled this summer. Durham’s caricature replaces James Armitage, M.D., dean of the UNMC College of Medicine, who was honored Feb. 4.