John Saunders Chase Jr. | |
---|---|
Born | January 23, 1925 |
Died | March 29, 2012 | (aged 87)
Nationality | American |
Alma mater |
Hampton University University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture |
Occupation | Architect |
John Saunders Chase Jr. (January 23, 1925 [1] – March 29, 2012) was born in Annapolis, Maryland, to John Saunders Chase and Alice Viola Hall. He was an American architect who was the first licensed African American architect in the state of Texas. [2] He was also the only Black architect licensed in the state for almost a decade. He was also the first African American to serve on the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, which reviewed the design for the United States Vietnam Veterans Memorial. [3]
Chase received Distinguished Alumni Awards from Hampton University (1961) and the University of Texas at Austin (1989 and 1992).
Chase attended Hampton University as an undergrad, graduating in 1948. [4] On June 7, 1950, Chase enrolled in the University of Texas School of Architecture master's program, making the university the first in the South to enroll an African American. Upon graduation, no white firm would hire him, so Chase moved to Houston, Texas to teach at Texas Southern University and to start his own firm, which he owned and operated for over 50 years. Although he had been designing buildings since the late 1940s, Chase started officially practicing architecture in 1952. [5] In 1963, he designed Riverside National Bank, the first black-owned bank in Texas. [6] In 1971, he and 12 other architects founded the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). [7]
Over the course of his career, Chase received numerous accolades for his professional and civic achievements.
John Saunders Chase Jr. | |
---|---|
Born | January 23, 1925 |
Died | March 29, 2012 | (aged 87)
Nationality | American |
Alma mater |
Hampton University University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture |
Occupation | Architect |
John Saunders Chase Jr. (January 23, 1925 [1] – March 29, 2012) was born in Annapolis, Maryland, to John Saunders Chase and Alice Viola Hall. He was an American architect who was the first licensed African American architect in the state of Texas. [2] He was also the only Black architect licensed in the state for almost a decade. He was also the first African American to serve on the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, which reviewed the design for the United States Vietnam Veterans Memorial. [3]
Chase received Distinguished Alumni Awards from Hampton University (1961) and the University of Texas at Austin (1989 and 1992).
Chase attended Hampton University as an undergrad, graduating in 1948. [4] On June 7, 1950, Chase enrolled in the University of Texas School of Architecture master's program, making the university the first in the South to enroll an African American. Upon graduation, no white firm would hire him, so Chase moved to Houston, Texas to teach at Texas Southern University and to start his own firm, which he owned and operated for over 50 years. Although he had been designing buildings since the late 1940s, Chase started officially practicing architecture in 1952. [5] In 1963, he designed Riverside National Bank, the first black-owned bank in Texas. [6] In 1971, he and 12 other architects founded the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). [7]
Over the course of his career, Chase received numerous accolades for his professional and civic achievements.