Bill Lacy
In a remarkable 50-year career, Bill N. Lacy, FAIA, who died August 25, 2020, became an international ambassador for design. Constantly promoting the inherent values of planning, the graphic arts, and architecture, Lacy achieved leadership positions in academia and government and was an advisor to museums, universities, government, nonprofits, and corporations. His projects rank among the most important structures and places in the 20th century. Moreover, the academy wove a strong cord throughout his career. He was assistant dean at Houston’s Rice University, founding dean of the architecture school at the University of Tennessee, president and professor at the American Academy at Rome, and president of Cooper Union and SUNY Purchase. Finally, he was director of architecture and design at the National Endowment for the Arts and executive director of the Pritzker Architecture Prize from 1988-2005.