Eiland Keith Dean (1926-2011) was born in Huntington, the son of Levi and Susie Dean. He was the youngest of three boys and three girls and grew up in the Highlawn area. He graduated from Huntington East High School in 1944. Following his military service in the U.S. Navy serving on the USS Register APD 92 during World War II, Dean returned to Huntington and enrolled at Marshall College, majoring in engineering. In 1949, he enrolled at Ohio State University and received his degree in architecture in 1953. He then joined his father's firm of Dean & Dean Architects.
During his professional career, he designed buildings on the Marshall University campus, including Smith Music Hall, Corbly Hall, the Campus Christian Center and the Marshall University Memorial Student Center. Dean was the longest-serving member of the West Virginia Board of Architects and was nationally recognized for his service to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. For this service, he was awarded the Presidential Medal and Service Award.
