Robert H.H. Hugman

Born in San Antonio as Robert Harvey Harold Hugman, he finished Brackenridge High before graduating from the School of Architecture and Design at the University of Texas at Austin in 1924.

[5] The efforts to save the Spanish colonial buildings of the French Quarter inspired Hugman to join those seeking to preserve San Antonio's rich architectural heritage when he returned there.

[2] After the city's downtown suffered a series of floods, with the worst in 1921,[6] plans had been proposed to convert that part of the San Antonio River into a paved-over concrete storm sewer.

[7] According to biographer Vernon Zunker, Hugman designed 31 unique staircases for the River Walk, along with bridges, water elements, an outdoor theater, and many other features.

[10] Edwin Arneson, the WPA's district director and chief engineer had been Hugman's boss was a supporter of the River Walk concept who helped get the needed federal funding.

Hugman's reputation began to recover when HemisFair '68, the city's international exposition, brought worldwide attention to the River Walk's unique beauty.

[13][15] Before his River Walk work, Hugman had also designed the original Walnut Springs Park in nearby Seguin, Texas, which has been partly reworked after years of neglect.

And Hugman designed Seguin's Max Starcke Park, built by the National Youth Administration and dedicated in 1938—before work began on the River Walk.