Sam Hurst McPhaul, 77, of Dunwoody, passed away June 21, 2010. A longtime Architect with John Portman and Associates, Mr. McPhaul was involved in the construction of prominent buildings in Atlanta, San Francisco, Singapore, Malaysia and China. Mr. McPhaul was also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having achieved the rank of Sergeant. "We never thought too much about it at the time," said a sister, Harriette McPhaul Adamsof Gainesville, Fla. "But he went on and made something out of it."
Mr. McPhaul became a certified architect who was hired by the Atlanta firm of John Portman & Associates in the early 1960s. Because of that, his imprint is visible throughout the downtown Atlanta skyline as well as other countries.
He had a hand in the construction and design of signature Portman structures that include the Atlanta Merchandise Mart, Peachtree Center and the Hyatt Regency. Elsewhere, the Georgia native had a role in building Marina Square in Singapore and the Shanghai Centre in Shanghai, China.
While he didn't favor one building over another, one thing was certain: The Atlanta structures held a special place in his heart.
"The reason we still live in Atlanta is because he had a tremendous amount of pride in the buildings he was associated with and the work Mr. Portman had done," said a son, Sam Hurst McPhaul Jr.of Dunwoody. "He was so proud to see downtown Atlanta develop."
A longtime smoker, Mr. McPhaul had developed lung cancer in his upper-left lobe. He died from complications of the disease on Monday at the home of his son and his son's partner. He was 77. A memorial service will be2 p.m. Sunday at the Oglethorpe Hill Chapel of H.M. Patterson & Son, which is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. McPhaul was born in Doerun, a tiny town in Colquitt County. His father, the late Neal McPhaul, had been a government land surveyor, a job that took the family across the Southeast.
In the early 1950s, Mr. McPhaul joined the Marines, where he was a math and aviation instructor at the Naval Technical Training Center in Jacksonville. After the military, he married Rosann C. McPhaul, his late wife of nearly 40 years.
Around 1961, Mr. McPhaul joined the firm founded by John Portman, the renowned architect who changed skylines in the world's largest cities, including Atlanta.
"He was so proud to see downtown develop, and he was an early cast member in that production," his son said. "He loved the city. That's why he stayed."
In the latter years of his career, Mr. McPhaul worked as an architect in Malaysia for two years. He returned to Atlanta in 1999 and joined PFVS Architects. He retired in 2001.
"He was real proud of his work," his sister said. "He took a lot of movies of the buildings and when we'd visit, he'd show us. He'd go into details of what was done as if we were architects. He loved every one of the buildings he worked on."
Additional survivors include a twin brother, Malcolm G. "Mickey" McPhaul of Cochran.
Sam was preceded in death by his wife, Rosann C. McPhaul and sister, Lora M. Newman, he is survived by his son, Sam Hurst McPhaul, Jr. and his son's partner, Nelson Loh; oldest sister, Harriette M. Adams and twin brother, Malcom G. McPhaul. A memorial service will be held Sunday, June 27th at 2 o'clock at Oglethorpe Hill Chapel with his beloved niece, The Rev. Dr. Georgia Newman officiating with Interment to follow at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions in Mr. McPhaul's name to Homeless Pets Foundation of Atlanta (www.homelesspets.com) or their local animal shelter. The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon from 3 until 6 o'clock at H.M. Patterson & Son, Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4550 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30319.
Sam Hurst McPhaul Sr. was always doodling as a child, drawing faces and shapes.
Mr. McPhaul became a certified architect who was hired by the Atlanta firm of John Portman & Associates in the early 1960s. Because of that, his imprint is visible throughout the downtown Atlanta skyline as well as other countries.
He had a hand in the construction and design of signature Portman structures that include the Atlanta Merchandise Mart, Peachtree Center and the Hyatt Regency. Elsewhere, the Georgia native had a role in building Marina Square in Singapore and the Shanghai Centre in Shanghai, China.
While he didn't favor one building over another, one thing was certain: The Atlanta structures held a special place in his heart.
"The reason we still live in Atlanta is because he had a tremendous amount of pride in the buildings he was associated with and the work Mr. Portman had done," said a son, Sam Hurst McPhaul Jr.of Dunwoody. "He was so proud to see downtown Atlanta develop."
A longtime smoker, Mr. McPhaul had developed lung cancer in his upper-left lobe. He died from complications of the disease on Monday at the home of his son and his son's partner. He was 77. A memorial service will be2 p.m. Sunday at the Oglethorpe Hill Chapel of H.M. Patterson & Son, which is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. McPhaul was born in Doerun, a tiny town in Colquitt County. His father, the late Neal McPhaul, had been a government land surveyor, a job that took the family across the Southeast.
In the early 1950s, Mr. McPhaul joined the Marines, where he was a math and aviation instructor at the Naval Technical Training Center in Jacksonville. After the military, he married Rosann C. McPhaul, his late wife of nearly 40 years.
Around 1961, Mr. McPhaul joined the firm founded by John Portman, the renowned architect who changed skylines in the world's largest cities, including Atlanta.
"He was so proud to see downtown develop, and he was an early cast member in that production," his son said. "He loved the city. That's why he stayed."
In the latter years of his career, Mr. McPhaul worked as an architect in Malaysia for two years. He returned to Atlanta in 1999 and joined PFVS Architects. He retired in 2001.
"He was real proud of his work," his sister said. "He took a lot of movies of the buildings and when we'd visit, he'd show us. He'd go into details of what was done as if we were architects. He loved every one of the buildings he worked on."
Additional survivors include a twin brother, Malcolm G. "Mickey" McPhaul of Cochran.
Sam was preceded in death by his wife, Rosann C. McPhaul and sister, Lora M. Newman, he is survived by his son, Sam Hurst McPhaul, Jr. and his son's partner, Nelson Loh; oldest sister, Harriette M. Adams and twin brother, Malcom G. McPhaul. A memorial service will be held Sunday, June 27th at 2 o'clock at Oglethorpe Hill Chapel with his beloved niece, The Rev. Dr. Georgia Newman officiating with Interment to follow at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions in Mr. McPhaul's name to Homeless Pets Foundation of Atlanta (www.homelesspets.com) or their local animal shelter. The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon from 3 until 6 o'clock at H.M. Patterson & Son, Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4550 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30319.
Sam Hurst McPhaul Sr. was always doodling as a child, drawing faces and shapes.
Sam Hurst McPhaul, 77, of Dunwoody, passed away June 21, 2010. A longtime Architect with John Portman and Associates, Mr. McPhaul was involved in the construction of prominent buildings in Atlanta, San Francisco, Singapore, Malaysia and China. Mr. McPhaul was also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having achieved the rank of Sergeant. "We never thought too much about it at the time," said a sister, Harriette McPhaul Adamsof Gainesville, Fla. "But he went on and made something out of it."
Mr. McPhaul became a certified architect who was hired by the Atlanta firm of John Portman & Associates in the early 1960s. Because of that, his imprint is visible throughout the downtown Atlanta skyline as well as other countries.
He had a hand in the construction and design of signature Portman structures that include the Atlanta Merchandise Mart, Peachtree Center and the Hyatt Regency. Elsewhere, the Georgia native had a role in building Marina Square in Singapore and the Shanghai Centre in Shanghai, China.
While he didn't favor one building over another, one thing was certain: The Atlanta structures held a special place in his heart.
"The reason we still live in Atlanta is because he had a tremendous amount of pride in the buildings he was associated with and the work Mr. Portman had done," said a son, Sam Hurst McPhaul Jr.of Dunwoody. "He was so proud to see downtown Atlanta develop."
A longtime smoker, Mr. McPhaul had developed lung cancer in his upper-left lobe. He died from complications of the disease on Monday at the home of his son and his son's partner. He was 77. A memorial service will be2 p.m. Sunday at the Oglethorpe Hill Chapel of H.M. Patterson & Son, which is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. McPhaul was born in Doerun, a tiny town in Colquitt County. His father, the late Neal McPhaul, had been a government land surveyor, a job that took the family across the Southeast.
In the early 1950s, Mr. McPhaul joined the Marines, where he was a math and aviation instructor at the Naval Technical Training Center in Jacksonville. After the military, he married Rosann C. McPhaul, his late wife of nearly 40 years.
Around 1961, Mr. McPhaul joined the firm founded by John Portman, the renowned architect who changed skylines in the world's largest cities, including Atlanta.
"He was so proud to see downtown develop, and he was an early cast member in that production," his son said. "He loved the city. That's why he stayed."
In the latter years of his career, Mr. McPhaul worked as an architect in Malaysia for two years. He returned to Atlanta in 1999 and joined PFVS Architects. He retired in 2001.
"He was real proud of his work," his sister said. "He took a lot of movies of the buildings and when we'd visit, he'd show us. He'd go into details of what was done as if we were architects. He loved every one of the buildings he worked on."
Additional survivors include a twin brother, Malcolm G. "Mickey" McPhaul of Cochran.
Sam was preceded in death by his wife, Rosann C. McPhaul and sister, Lora M. Newman, he is survived by his son, Sam Hurst McPhaul, Jr. and his son's partner, Nelson Loh; oldest sister, Harriette M. Adams and twin brother, Malcom G. McPhaul. A memorial service will be held Sunday, June 27th at 2 o'clock at Oglethorpe Hill Chapel with his beloved niece, The Rev. Dr. Georgia Newman officiating with Interment to follow at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions in Mr. McPhaul's name to Homeless Pets Foundation of Atlanta (www.homelesspets.com) or their local animal shelter. The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon from 3 until 6 o'clock at H.M. Patterson & Son, Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4550 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30319.
Sam Hurst McPhaul Sr. was always doodling as a child, drawing faces and shapes.
Mr. McPhaul became a certified architect who was hired by the Atlanta firm of John Portman & Associates in the early 1960s. Because of that, his imprint is visible throughout the downtown Atlanta skyline as well as other countries.
He had a hand in the construction and design of signature Portman structures that include the Atlanta Merchandise Mart, Peachtree Center and the Hyatt Regency. Elsewhere, the Georgia native had a role in building Marina Square in Singapore and the Shanghai Centre in Shanghai, China.
While he didn't favor one building over another, one thing was certain: The Atlanta structures held a special place in his heart.
"The reason we still live in Atlanta is because he had a tremendous amount of pride in the buildings he was associated with and the work Mr. Portman had done," said a son, Sam Hurst McPhaul Jr.of Dunwoody. "He was so proud to see downtown Atlanta develop."
A longtime smoker, Mr. McPhaul had developed lung cancer in his upper-left lobe. He died from complications of the disease on Monday at the home of his son and his son's partner. He was 77. A memorial service will be2 p.m. Sunday at the Oglethorpe Hill Chapel of H.M. Patterson & Son, which is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. McPhaul was born in Doerun, a tiny town in Colquitt County. His father, the late Neal McPhaul, had been a government land surveyor, a job that took the family across the Southeast.
In the early 1950s, Mr. McPhaul joined the Marines, where he was a math and aviation instructor at the Naval Technical Training Center in Jacksonville. After the military, he married Rosann C. McPhaul, his late wife of nearly 40 years.
Around 1961, Mr. McPhaul joined the firm founded by John Portman, the renowned architect who changed skylines in the world's largest cities, including Atlanta.
"He was so proud to see downtown develop, and he was an early cast member in that production," his son said. "He loved the city. That's why he stayed."
In the latter years of his career, Mr. McPhaul worked as an architect in Malaysia for two years. He returned to Atlanta in 1999 and joined PFVS Architects. He retired in 2001.
"He was real proud of his work," his sister said. "He took a lot of movies of the buildings and when we'd visit, he'd show us. He'd go into details of what was done as if we were architects. He loved every one of the buildings he worked on."
Additional survivors include a twin brother, Malcolm G. "Mickey" McPhaul of Cochran.
Sam was preceded in death by his wife, Rosann C. McPhaul and sister, Lora M. Newman, he is survived by his son, Sam Hurst McPhaul, Jr. and his son's partner, Nelson Loh; oldest sister, Harriette M. Adams and twin brother, Malcom G. McPhaul. A memorial service will be held Sunday, June 27th at 2 o'clock at Oglethorpe Hill Chapel with his beloved niece, The Rev. Dr. Georgia Newman officiating with Interment to follow at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions in Mr. McPhaul's name to Homeless Pets Foundation of Atlanta (www.homelesspets.com) or their local animal shelter. The family will receive friends Saturday afternoon from 3 until 6 o'clock at H.M. Patterson & Son, Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, 4550 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30319.
Sam Hurst McPhaul Sr. was always doodling as a child, drawing faces and shapes.
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