William E. Linch (1895-1974) became Ohio State's university architect after Howard Dwight Smith's retirement in 1956, having a hand in many of Ohio State's new Modernist buildings after campus grew rapidly following World War II.
Linch was a native of Steubenville and graduated from The Ohio State University in 1921 with a degree in architectural engineering. He also served in the military as a second lieutenant prior to his graduation, being stationed at Fort Gordon in Washington and Fort Monroe in Virginia as a member of the Coast Artillery. After his graduation, he began employment in the Office of State Architect, and from 1924-1925 he worked in New York at the offices of York & Sawyer. Linch returned to Columbus in 1926, and after a brief stint with Robert S. Harsh and Associates, he started his own firm in 1929 and continued his employment with the State Architect. In 1945, he began working with Sims, Cornelius, and Schooley.
Linch was appointed as university architect in February 1956, after the retirement of Howard Dwight Smith. At that time he was involved with the Columbus AIA chapter (of which he served as president from 1951-1952), the Association of University Architects, the Rotary Club, and the Freemasons. He held that position until 1965, designing many new campus buildings like the original dorms north of Woodruff, Park-Stradley and Smith-Steeb Halls, and numerous additions to earlier campus buildings. Linch was succeeded by Hollie W. Shupe.
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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/272663746/william_e-linch