[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 146 (Tuesday, October 6, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF PAUL DEVROUAX

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CEDRIC L. RICHMOND

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 6, 2015

  Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Paul S. 
Devrouax, New Orleans native and leading architect in Washington, DC. 
Mr. Devrouax passed away on March 22, 2010, at the age of 67.
   Mr. Devrouax was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1942. He studied 
architecture at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he 
graduated in 1966. Mr. Devrouax was drafted into the United States Army 
and was promoted to Sergeant in the 6th Armored Cavalry Regiment. He 
first came to Washington, DC after his unit was deployed in the wake of 
riots after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
   In the decades that followed, Mr. Devrouax returned to the nation's 
capital and helped rebuild the blighted city. He founded Devrouax + 
Purnell, an African-American architectural firm. In 1986, Mr. Devrouax 
designed Frank D. Reeves Municipal Building which initiated the 
revitalization of the historic U Street neighborhood.
   Mr. Devrouax was a trailblazer in the architectural field in 
Washington, DC. The Pepco Headquarters became the first building in 
downtown Washington designed by an African-American architectural firm. 
Mr. Devrouax also worked on many of the city's recent landmarks, 
including the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the Verizon 
Center, the Nationals Stadium, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Memorial. His passion for his profession and his community spurred him 
to mentor young architectural students.
   Mr. Devrouax's legacy will forever be a part of the city and his 
dedication to community embodies the spirit of New Orleans. Stories 
like his will inspire generations of Americans to pursue their dreams.
   Mr. Speaker, I celebrate the life and legacy of Mr. Devrouax, a 
beloved father, and example to aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere.

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