Will Rogers logo creator dies at 80, Father of former Will Rogers Memorial director
Paul Ernest Lefebvre, creator of the Will Rogers Memorial Museums logo, died Tuesday, July 29, 2008 in Oklahoma City. Michelle Lefebvre-Carter of the Grand Lake area, former Will Rogers Memorial Museums executive director, is his daughter.
Lefebvre was a co-founder of “Oklahoma Today” magazine in 1956, when he was asked by then Oklahoma Gov. Raymond Gary to create a magazine to promote Oklahoma’s image. For 27 years, he photographed Oklahoma for the magazine and often worked with his wife, Irene, who wrote for the magazine.
He served a period of time as art and design director of “Persimmon Hill,” published by the National Cowboy and Heritage Museum.
Largely as volunteers, the Lefebvre family was involved in he 1979 centennial birthday celebration of Will Rogers working closely with Gov. George Nigh. Lefebvre also documented the Lions Clubs’ installation of the Will Rogers-Wiley Post monument at Point Barrow, Alaska
His images of Will Rogers were sandblasted into two windows at the Claremore Memorial. His logos continue to be used.
Paul Lefebvre’s family emigrated from Belgium as glass blowers and artisans who moved from his boyhood New Jersey home to Okmulgee following the booming glass industry.
He returned from World War II from Army service and married Irene Sturm of Medford, who served in the Womens’ Army Corp. He was an Army photographer assigned to war bond drives when they met in Washington.
Survivors area his wife and daughter, two sons, Paul Lefebvre II and Mark Lefebvre and grandson, John Paul Lefebvre.