Macon S. Smith, FAIA, the retired Raleigh architect, received the 2001 William Henley Deitrick Medal for service from the AIA North Carolina June 16 at the chapter's annual design awards banquet.

In honor of a past president of AIA North Carolina, the late William Henley Deitrick, FAIA, this award is presented annually to a member who has contributed extraordinary service to the community, profession, or the chapter. The AIA Tower in Raleigh, now the headquarters for AIA North Carolina, was donated to the chapter by Deitrick, who had used it as his architecture studio and offices.

The Deitrick Award recognized Smith's 52 years of skill, professionalism, dedication, ability, and commitment toward the advancement of AIA North Carolina. Smith recalls that his proudest achievement was serving as construction manager for the renovation project that converted Deitrick's home offices to the AIA North Carolina headquarters.

S. Scott Ferebee Jr., FAIA, the 1973 AIA president (and a strong supporter for Smith's Deitrick nomination) appointed Smith to the Jury of Fellows in that year. Smith was reappointed twice and was the only North Carolinian to have served as jury chair. Smith also served a term as president of AIA North Carolina in 1966 and worked on more than 35 state, regional, and national AIA committees. During his presidency, Smith convinced the University of North Carolina Board of Governors and the state legislature of the need for an additional school of architecture at UNC-Charlotte. Smith also played an instrumental role on the task force that provided oversight and research for the development of the award-winning History of The North Carolina Chapter of The American Institute of Architects 1913-1998 An Architectural Heritage.

Smith spent much of professional career as partner and vice president in the Raleigh architecture firm of F. Carter Williams.

In full support of the nomination, Leslie N. Boney Jr., FAIA, says, "Macon Smith epitomizes the qualities which the chapter had in mind when it established the award. I feel his middle initial "S" could represent the word "service," which is my interpretation of the purpose of this medal.

"Close enough is not good enough for Macon Smith. It has to be just right," Boney says.

Smith was presented the Deitrick Medal at the summer Design Award banquet June 16, 2001.

Copyright 2001 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.