Heading out for a walk with my dog not long ago, I enjoyed a friendly exchange with a neighbor. The banter concerning “so what do you do for a living?” provoked a response on her part that I found delightfully affirming and during our return leg, she presented me, with great pride and fondness, a folder testifying to the accomplishments of her uncle – one Randolph Croxton, FAIA.
Randy served as a Regional Director on the National AIA Board and is a former president of the AIANY. He has devoted his career, through practice, projects, writings, and lectures, to balancing the built and natural environments; to the unity of design excellence and sustainability.
I am stirred to offer the following. First, “Good on ya, Randy!” Second, “Thank you” to my neighbor for going through the effort to find and share that folder. And then, no less clearly, I am moved by my neighbor’s pride to reflect upon and celebrate the value of our members. The value of each of those who have contributed, with or without celebration and notoriety, to the interests of our member colleagues and the profession; and who have demonstrated the value of an architect through their work and projects. Appreciation and attribution may vary in both kind and degree (direct, indirect, implicit, explicit), but impact and importance are undeniable.