82R12650 MGR-D
By: Dutton H.R. No. 806
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, John Saunders Chase, Jr., is being honored at a
celebration of the 120th anniversary of the First Shiloh Missionary
Baptist Church in Houston for designing and building the current
church and for his pioneering contributions in the field of
architecture; and
WHEREAS, Born in Annapolis, Maryland, to Viola Hall Chase and
John Saunders Chase, Sr., on January 23, 1925, John Chase earned a
bachelor's degree from Hampton University in Virginia and then came
to Austin to work; he was one of the first two African Americans to
enroll at The University of Texas at Austin when its graduate
programs were desegregated in 1950, and he was the first African
American to graduate from the university's architecture school when
he did so in 1952; and
WHEREAS, That same year, Mr. Chase joined Texas Southern
University as an assistant professor of architectural drafting and
started his own firm; his career began with designs for churches,
schools, houses, and small public buildings; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Chase was the first African American licensed
architect in Texas and later became the first African American
admitted to the Texas Society of Architects and the Houston chapter
of the American Institute of Architects; he cofounded the National
Organization of Minority Architects in 1971 and was appointed by
President Jimmy Carter in 1980 to serve on the United States
Commission of Fine Arts, becoming the first African American to
serve on that commission; and
WHEREAS, Responsible for many major Houston community
buildings, Mr. Chase's firm designed the George R. Brown Convention
Center and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at TSU; his work on
Booker T. Washington High School garnered him awards from the
Houston Independent School District and the Texas Association of
School Boards, and he has been further recognized with election to
the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows and with
the institute's Whitney M. Young, Jr., Award; he is also the
recipient of four consecutive Design for Excellence awards from the
National Organization of Minority Architects; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Chase was the first African American to be
designated a Distinguished Alumnus by the Texas Exes association,
and he became the first African American to lead that association in
1998; he has shared his time and talents as a member of the boards of
Hampton University, Huston-Tillotson University, and the Houston
chapter of the American Red Cross, among other major organizations
and institutions; and
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Chase enjoys the love
and support of his wife, Drucie, and his children, John, Anthony,
and Saundria; and
WHEREAS, John Chase has made a positive difference in his
community, state, and nation, and the barriers he broke with so many
of his accomplishments ensure that his remarkable legacy will not
soon be forgotten; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby honor John Saunders Chase, Jr., for his
achievements in the field of architecture and extend to him sincere
best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Chase as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.