Oklahoma State University Athletics
The Vision of Gary Sparks
July 26, 1999 | General
July 26, 1999
By Fred Minnick
OSU Athletic department intern
In the mid 1960's, Gary Sparks, an Oklahoma State University architect student, met his wife for the first time on a blind date at historic Gallagher-Iba arena.
Ironically, Gary Sparks and his Tulsa-based company were chosen to tackle the biggest project of its kind in Oklahoma, the renovation of Gallagher Iba.
Sparks first pondered the idea of revamping the arena April 10, 1995, after the hubbub of March madness on a drive home from Stillwater to Tulsa.
"I kept thinking if we could be bigger than some schools, we would have something real unique. Nobody else would have this kind of facility. One that had suites that overlooked both the basketball arena and football field," Sparks said.
"There were a lot of things I thought of on my way to Tulsa. I had envisioned how this could work, it was just a matter of getting it on paper and testing the concept," Sparks added.
After pioneering the idea and fine-tuning it on paper, Sparks approached OSU Athletic director Terry Don Phillips in June of 1995. Phillips loved the idea and agreed renovation was needed, but Gary Sparks Companies were not chosen as the architect immediately.
Phillips sent letters to all certified architect companies in Oklahoma, asking for companies interested in the construction project.
Sparks said most people wanted to completely do away with Gallagher Iba and start a new facility. Sparks stuck to his guns of making Gallagher-Iba bigger and better, and was chosen as the architect in October of 1995.
"After being selected my first reaction was wow, we did it. I was extremely pleased they had that kind of confidence in us," Sparks said.
"It was a dream come true?So many of us are OSU alumni. My first date with my wife was at Gallagher-Iba. It is really a special place to us and watching it expand and become bigger and better is exciting," Sparks said.
Though Sparks considers himself a good businessman and architect, he admits it is not his top priority in life.
"My top three priorities are church, family and business. My faith in Christ is a very important part of my life. I do things a little different than some. I will take a different approach or attitude because of my Christian beliefs," Sparks said.
"I try to implement my Christian beliefs in my business as much as possible. I really believe the success I have had is related to my walk with Christ. I don't take any credit myself," Sparks said.
