Karen E. Hudson—whose grandfather, Paul Williams, FAIA, became the first African-American AIA member on May 15, 1923, and the first black Fellow of the Institute, in 1957—presents President Marshall Purnell, FAIA, with copies of the AIA certificates recording both occasions. Williams became a member exactly 85 years before the beginning of the AIA convention presided over by Purnell, the first African-American AIA president. Williams began practicing in 1915, opened his own office in 1922, and practiced until 1975, with designs spanning from homes for Hollywood stars to the L.A. Airport.

“I wish he were here today to see these faces in this room,” Purnell said of the surprise soiree, which included leaders from the AIA and National Organization of Minority Architects and friends and colleagues from throughout Purnell’s career. “I see so many of my mentors here, some who knew it and some who were unaware . . . but I was watching,” Purnell said of the gathering. Of those who consider him their mentor, Purnell said, “don’t look so much at where I am now, but where I have been. That’s how you judge an individual.”