Bruce Crabtree
Born
Bruce Isbester Crabtree Jr.

September 1, 1923
Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedMay 3, 2014
Alma materVanderbilt University
Clemson University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Occupation(s)Architect, politician
SpouseDolly Nance Fischer
Children5

Bruce Crabtree (September 1, 1923 – May 3, 2014) was an American architect and politician. He designed many buildings in Nashville, Tennessee, including the Andrew Jackson State Office Building and the James K. Polk State Office Building. He served as the vice mayor of Belle Meade, Tennessee.

Early life

Crabtree was born on September 1, 1923, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.[1][2] He attended Vanderbilt University in 1942, Clemson University in 1943–1944, and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, where he earned a bachelor's degree in architecture in 1948.[2][3]

The Andrew Jackson State Office Building, designed by Taylor & Crabtree.

Career

Crabtree co-founded the architectural firm Taylor & Crabtree in 1952.[2] They designed Ben West Library (then the Nashville Public Library) in 1966,[3][4] the Andrew Jackson State Office Building in 1969, the James K. Polk State Office Building in 1981, and the Rachel Jackson State Office Building in 1985.[2] He was elected as a fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1983.[2] With fellow architects David and Ed Johnson, Crabtree co-founded Johnson Johnson Crabtree Architects, another architectural firm, in 1991.[2] Crabtree also designed the St. Henry Catholic Church.[1]

Crabtree first served on the planning zoning boards of Belle Meade, Tennessee, where he was the chairman of the zoning board of appeals for six years.[3] In 1988, he succeeded John Clay as interim commissioner of Belle Meade, Tennessee,[3] and he was elected in November of the same year.[5] He served as its vice mayor by 1992.[6] He "shaped the community and rewrote its zoning ordinance", and made it look like "an almost Norman Rockwellesque community" according to his son.[1]

Crabtree was awarded the Medal of Merit by the Tennessee Society of Architects.[3]

Personal life and death

Crabtree married Dolly Nance Fischer in 1948.[2] They had five children.[1] They resided in Belle Meade.[3]

Crabtree died on May 3, 2014.[1] His funeral was held at the St. Henry Catholic Church in Nashville.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Gonzalez, Tony (May 5, 2014). "Architect Bruce Crabtree, who helped shaped Nashville skyline, dies". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Bruce I. Crabtree Architectural Photography Collection, ca. 1960-ca. 1988" (PDF). Nashville Public Library. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Belle Meade seat sought by Crabtree". The Tennessean. October 30, 1988. p. 25. Retrieved April 19, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Kreyling, Christine (April 11, 2013). "Former downtown library the latest modernist structure threatened by the wrecking ball". Nashville Scene. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Crabtree gets Belle Meade post". The Tennessean. November 9, 1988. p. 13. Retrieved April 19, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Inconvenience coming to end". The Tennessean. October 28, 1992. p. 143. Retrieved April 19, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
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