EARLE S. ALEXANDER, JR.
1931-2017
Earle S. Alexander, Jr., a prominent and distinguished Houston Architect and loving Husband, Father and Grandfather, passed away on February 11, 2017, his 86th Birthday. Earle was born to Earle S. Alexander and Jane Langford Alexander in Houston, Texas on February 11, 1931. Mr. Alexander, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, was a principal in the firm bearing his name, Pierce Goodwin Alexander & Linville, which is one of the largest Architecture Firms in Houston and the State of Texas. After graduating from Lamar High School in 1949, he attended Texas A&M University and The University of Kansas, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and Scarab, an Honorary Architecture Society. Following his graduation, he entered the Air Force and was stationed at Johnson Air Force Base located just outside Tokyo, Japan where he served as Commanding Officer of the 3rd Installations Squadron during the Korean War.
Mr. Alexander was a member of the American Institute of Architects where he served as President of the Houston Chapter, as a Member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, as Chairman of the Ethics Committee, Chairman of the Urban Design Committee, and as Chairman of the “Blueprints for the Future II” Program, for which he received a special Award of Appreciation from the AIA. He was also a member of the Texas Society of Architects, where he was instrumental in the formation of the prestigious Texas Architect’s Committee on which he served as a Trustee representing Houston Architects. He assisted the schools of Architecture in the Houston Area in many capacities, including as an Adjunct Professor of Architecture at Rice University. He was also a member of various National Accreditation Committees reviewing the Architecture Programs at The University of Houston and Texas A&M University and served as Chairman of the President’s Review Committee for the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University.
Mr. Alexander was a Director and member of the Executive Committee of the Texas American Bank/Galleria, N.A. He was a member of the Downtown Rotary Club of Houston, the Executives Association of Houston, where he was a member of the Board of Directors, Central Houston, Inc., The South Main Association and The West Houston Association, where he chaired the Environment and Land Planning Committee and the Symposium Committees in 1982 and 1983 and received the organization’s Outstanding Contribution Award. He was a sponsor of the Rice Design Alliance and a long time member of the Houston Chamber of Commerce, now known as the Greater Houston Partnership, where he served in many capacities including Chairman of the Downtown Committee and Chairman of Cultural Affairs Committee, where he chaired the first two Houston Arts Festivals, which later became the Houston International Festival. While he was Chairman of the Downtown Committee, he helped found Central Houston, Inc. He also helped found the Houston Economic Development Council, where he served as the first Chairman of the Houston Marketing Network. He later served on the Aviation Committee of the World Trade Association and as a member of a special task force of community leaders that studied the future needs of Houston’s Airport System and the Port of Houston.
Mr. Alexander was a Founding Director of the Society for the Performing Arts, where he served for over 30 years on the Executive Committee and in numerous other capacities. He was also Co-President of the Foundation for Jones Hall, which was responsible for raising the substantial funds needed to restore the Hall to it’s original beauty and acoustical grandeur. He was a member of the Houston Racquet Club, where he served on the Board of Directors and as President. Mr. Alexander’s many achievements were recognized when he was listed in Who’s Who in America.
He was a long-time member of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, where he served in many capacities including the Board of Deacons, as a Ruling Elder, as Chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee and as Chairman of several Building Committees.
Mr. Alexander’s firm designed many major projects in many parts of the State of Texas and throughout the United States, the United Kingdom and Iran. These projects included Terminals A, B, and C, and the International Airlines Building at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, The Marathon Oil Tower, Two Houston Center, numerous buildings on the Rice University Campus, on the University of Houston Campus and the Texas A&M University Campus, the Clark Clinic at M.D. Anderson Hospital, numerous buildings for the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, The U.S. Navy Homeport at Corpus Christi, The Delta Satellite Terminal and The Administration Building at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport , The Headquarters Facility for Exxon Chemicals Americas and numerous other projects in 28 states around the nation and several foreign countries. These works have received many awards of Excellence.
Earle loved motorcycling with the beloved “Road Brothers”, taking many trips all over the Southern United States and realized his long time dream to ride motorcycles through the Alps with his son, Cameron.
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, February 17, 2017 at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11612 Memorial Drive, 77024.
Mr. Alexander was preceded in death by his sister, Martha Alexander Roche. Surviving are his wife, Nancy Gilchrist Alexander, daughter Kyle Alexander Sontheimer and husband Joe, son Cameron Alan Alexander and wife Nicki and grandchildren, Anne Sontheimer Bradley, Martha Sontheimer Sierra and Colin James Alexander. In lieu of the usual remembrances, donations may be made to Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, The American Heart Association or the charity of one’s choice.