A Brief History

n 1996 at the AIA National convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Robert Barringer, AIA, was attending a seminar when to his surprise he noticed his old college friend Williston Dye, FAIA asleep in the back row. Having not seen each other in twenty years the two caught up over dinner that night at the Napa Valley Grille at The Mall of America.

After a raucous evening of reminiscing, (particularly about saving Robert's life in Amsterdam in 1973) they soon decided that friendships should be renewed a lot more frequently than every twenty years. So they agreed to meet every year at the AIA Convention and began inviting friends and colleagues. At first, a few phone calls to friends were made during the conventions; a desirable dinner spot was agreed upon and arranged and paid for by Williston. Subsequently, with some advance planning and reservations, formal invitations were designed and sent out. Entertainment was added to the evening and voilà! - The Friends of Williston Dinner became the friendship dinner - it's all about friendship.

Outrageous good times at great restaurants and great hotels ensued over the years. Particularly memorable evenings include: The ‘rabbit’ incident and the dirty joke contest at the Flagstaff House in Boulder, Colorado (2001 convention in Denver); the champagne incident at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans (1997); the endless toast incident at the Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas (1999); and the show girls in Las Vegas (2004).

The formation of the Friends of Williston Society and the installation of Fellows (2004, Chicago) began in a moment of shameless self aggrandizement, Williston decided to name the dinner after himself. Why? Because he paid for all of them and made all the arrangements! And because Williston is a really cool name!

From 2004 the Friends of Williston Dinners continued to prosper.

In 2018 Williston closed out the Annual Friends of Williston Society Dinner with a grand party at the St. Regis in New York City.

Thanks to so many for their kindness, good humor, generosity and most of all for their amazing friendship and camaraderie over 24 years!

Williston