College of

Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Ken Steele, a civil and environmental engineering alumnus, recently won the 2025 Oklahoma Book Award in fiction for his debut novel The Promise of Unbroken Straw.

Rooted in Oklahoma history and heart, Steele’s novel draws inspiration from his own family’s wheat farm and the lives of his father and grandfather.  The story follows Paul, a young boy coming of age during World War II, as he grapples with loss, strained family ties, and the search for meaning across a lifetime.

“This book is a tribute to Oklahoma – to the land, the people and the legacy that shaped me,” Steele said.  “I wanted to honor those who came before me and show readers that even through hardship, there’s always a path to hope.”

A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Steele retired from a successful career in the oil and gas industry.  He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1980 where he graduated first in his class and was a “Top Ten” graduate of OSU in recognition of his academic and campus involvement.  He then received his master’s degree at MIT in 1982.

While at ExxonMobil, Steele was credited with numerous technical innovations, including patents in deepwater technology that have been featured on ABC’s Good Morning America. 

After joining Chevron, he coordinated their global Quality Assurance process for major capital projects, some exceeding $50 billion in spend.  Throughout his career, Steele traveled extensively across six continents. 

In 2017, The Houston Chronicle published Steele’s essay reflecting on the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and the struggle of a city to heal. That essay drew from his personal experience in rebuilding after a devastating flood. 

Steele resides in Colorado with his wife of 43 years where his days are filled with skiing, pickleball, golf, hiking, and all the mountains can offer.

“The Promise of Unbroken Straw” is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and wherever books are sold.