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. Dutton ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 806 was adopted by the House on March 16, 2011, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House