The Directory of African American Architects

John Chase, FAIA

posted Apr 3, 2012 by mannda

John Saunders Chase was born in Annapolis, Maryland, on January 23, 1925. At the blessed age of 87 years old, Chase went to his final rest on March 29, 2012. From 1944 to 1946 he served in the United States Army in the Philippine Islands where he saw combat in the Asian theater. He was decorated with the American Theater Ribbon, the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the World War II Victory Ribbon. In 1948, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture at Hampton University. He went on to become the first African American to enroll in the University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture. He graduated in 1952. His professional career began that same year when he was appointed assistant professor of architectural drafting at Texas Southern University and founded John S. Chase, A.I.A. Architect, Inc. His early designs included churches, schools, homes and small public buildings. Chase achieved a number of impressive firsts. He was the first African American licensed to practice architecture in the state of Texas and later was the first African American admitted to the Texas Society of Architects and the Houston Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). He also co-founded the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) along with 12 other black architects at the AIA convention in Detroit in 1971. When President Jimmy Carter appointed him in 1980, Chase became the first African American to serve on the United States Commission on Fine Arts. His service on the commission included the creation of the Vietnam War Memorial. His architectural imprint can be seen globally. He was commissioned to design the United States Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia. He collaborated on the design of the George R. Brown Convention Center and designed the Washington Technical Institute, Links, Inc., National Headquarters, Delta Sigma Theta National Headquarters, and the Harris County Astrodome Renovation. On the campus of Texas Southern University, he designed the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Sterling Student Life Center and the Martin Luther King, Jr. School of Humanities. Chase was elected to the AIA College of Fellows, was awarded the AIA Whitney M. Young Citation, and was the recipient of the NOMA Design for Excellence Award for four consecutive years. He received the commendation for Meritorious Service by the Houston Independent School District and the Honor Award for Architectural Excellence in School Design by the Texas Association of School Boards for the design of the Booker T. Washington High School. Chase was a member of the CIAA hall of fame for both wrestling and football and he was an avid golfer. He was also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the Nu Boule chapter of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. Chase served his community on numerous boards; Hampton University, University of Texas Health Science Center, Hermann Hospital, and Golden State Life Insurance Company. He also served as President of the Houston Club and of the University of Texas Exes. Chase is survived by his wife Drucie Rucker Chase and his three children John S. Chase, Jr. (Brenda ), Anthony R. Chase (Dina) and Saundria Chase Gray (Jerome); grandchildren Asa Davis, Chase Gray, Jordan Chase, Grace Gray and Abyssinia ("Kat") Chase and nieces and nephews Laura Farley, John Farley, Michael Farley and William Farley. Visitation will be from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3, at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 500 Clay Street, Houston, Texas. The funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 4, at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. In lieu if customary remembrances, the family suggests memorial contributions be directed to the John S. Chase endowed scholarship fund at the University of Texas, School of Architecture, 1 University Station B7500, Austin, TX 78712-0222 or Hampton University, Hampton , VA 23668.