Famed Architect Ernest Clifford Wilson Jr. Dies : Death: He designed Nixon, Getty museums and is credited with changing the development face of Orange County.

World-renowned architect Ernest Clifford Wilson Jr., designer of the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu and the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace in Yorba Linda, died Tuesday of complications from a stroke. He was 68.

Wilson and partner Robert Langdon founded Langdon Wilson Architecture Planners, a 41-year-old firm credited with shaping the development of Orange and Los Angeles counties. At the time of his death, Wilson was both senior partner of Langdon Wilson, based in Newport Beach, and president of Koll International, where he was involved in the planning and development of hotels and golf resorts in Baja California.

Wilson is credited with designing more major office towers in Orange County than any other architect.

His work included the Wells Fargo Tower and the Taco Bell headquarters in Koll Center Irvine North. The firm provided master-planning of Irvine Spectrum, Jamboree Center and the Koll Center.

“Ernie Wilson was a leader in the Southern California architectural industry and a driving force in Koll International’s landmark efforts to develop its Baja California resorts,” said Don Koll, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the Koll Co.

Langdon Wilson also designed 22 office buildings and collaborated on six more on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, more than any other firm. The CNA Tower at 6th Street and Commonwealth Avenue, the nation’s first all-reflective glass building, was designed by Wilson, according to Pat Allen, a partner since the firm moved to Newport Beach from Los Angeles in 1971.

The firm has also planned and designed buildings and communities throughout the United States, Canada, China, Taiwan, Spain, Korea and Mexico.

Wilson’s philosophy was that each client and project presented a new and unique opportunity, Allen said. But other key factors to his success were his enthusiasm and talents as a motivator, Allen said.

Irvine Co. Chairman Donald L. Bren described Wilson as “a good friend who possessed a great vision . . . and extraordinary enthusiasm for every endeavor throughout his life.”

Said Wilson’s older son, Peter, 40: “The people he worked with all became his friends.”

Wilson’s involvement in the community brought key projects to the firm, including the Nixon Library, associates said. Wilson met with Nixon on several occasions to discuss the library design, Allen recalled.

Born in Burbank in 1924, Wilson graduated from the USC School of Architecture and was named in “Who’s Who of American Universities.” He played in two Rose Bowl games as a member of USC’s football team and became an active supporter of the USC Alumni Associates.

He was honored in 1987 by the Executive Magazine as one of its 100 Outstanding Executives in real estate and construction.

The Newport Beach resident also served on the board of directors of the Newport Harbor Art Museum, which his firm designed, and was a member of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club. An accomplished pilot, avid sports fisherman and a world-class sailor, Wilson participated in numerous ocean regattas with his 50-foot racing yacht, Westerly.

Wilson is survived by his wife of 44 years, Shirley; two sons, Peter and Ernest Clifford III, both of Newport Beach; a daughter, Caroline Grazioli of Pasadena; two brothers, Marlin Wilson of Seattle and Ronald Wilson of San Marino; and three grandchildren, Keri, Peter Jr. and Clayton.

Private funeral services are planned. A celebration of Wilson’s life will be held at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club at 4 p.m. Friday.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach.