Paul A. Kennon

Paul Atherton Kennon Jr.
Born (1934-01-27)January 27, 1934
Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, USA
Died January 8, 1990(1990-01-08) (aged 55)
Houston, Texas
Cause of death Heart attack
Alma mater

Texas A&M University

Cranbrook Academy of Art
Occupation

Architect and Professor

at Rice University
Spouse(s) Helen Ross Kennon (married 1957-1990, his death)
Children Two children
Parent(s)

Paul Atherton Kennon Sr.
Gladys Bookout Kennon O'Hearn

Stepfather Taylor W. O'Hearn

Paul Atherton Kennon Jr. (January 27, 1934 – January 8, 1990), was an American architect, a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Dean of the School of Architecture at Rice University, Texas, USA.[1][2]

A native of Shreveport in northwestern Louisiana, Kennon studied for his undergraduate degree at Texas A & M University, followed by earning a Master's degree at Cranbrook Academy of Art, Michigan. He worked for seven years as a designer for architect Eero Saarinen[2] (He won an Eliel Saarinen Memorial Fellowship that enabled him to study at the Cranbrook Academy.)[1]

Kennon was recruited to Rice University as associate director of the School of Architecture and a teaching faculty member. He became dean of the architecture school in September 1989. A few months later, he died suddenly in 1990 of a heart attack.[2]

In 1967, he returned to work with the architectural practice, Caudill, Rowlett, Scott, headed by his mentor William W. Caudill, for whom he had worked during his college vacations. He became a design principal and then president of the company. The projects for which he was responsible won a number of awards.[1]

Family

Kennon was the son of Paul Atherton Kennon Sr. (1910-1986), a native of Tangipahoa Parish in South Louisiana,[3] and the former Gladys Bookout (1910-2001), originally from Shreveport. The couple divorced. A college graduate, his mother for years was executive secretary at Arkansas-Louisiana CITGO.

About 1945, Gladys Kennon married Taylor W. O'Hearn of Shreveport. In 1964, when blacks were still mostly disenfranchised in Louisiana, O'Hearn was elected at-large from Caddo Parish as a state representative. He was one of two Republicans elected that year, the first to serve in the state house since Reconstruction. The other was also elected at-large from Caddo Parish.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Kennon, Paul Atherton". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2014-11-11. From "Remembering Paul Kennon, FAIA" Texas Architect, March–April 1990.
  2. 1 2 3 "Paul A. Kennon, 55, Honored Architect And a Dean at Rice". The New York Times. January 10, 1990. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
  3. ↑ "Paul Atherton Kennon". wadeprater.com. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
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