Fred Minson

Fred “Rick” Harrison Minson, III, 52 of Chester, VA, a native of Petersburg, VA., Architect and Community Leader, passed away at his home on Sunday, May 23, 2004. Rick was President of island Architects, Inc. headquartered in Chestr, VA., a nationally recognized award winning firm, specializing in resort architecture. He was a charter member and first acting President of The Hilton Head Island American Institute of Architects, serving as its’ President for a second and third term in 1997 & 1998. He was a member of the Virginia Society of The American Institute of Architects, and the James River Chapter of The American Institute of Architects. He was certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and was a registered Architect in the states of Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. Rick was a member of the Frank Lloyd Wright Association, the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Foundation, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy. He was also a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. During his distinguished career, he won over fifty local and national Architectural awards, among them being the 1995 Pillars of the Industry Award by the National Association of Home Builders for the Dillon Apartments on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and the 1993 South Carolina Energy Design Award given by the South Carolina AIA for the St. Francis By The Sea Catholic Church on Hilton Head Island. He won numerous awards given by the American Institute of Architects, two of which were Merit Awards for the Transit Shelters for the Town of Hilton Head Island and for his former personal residence at Acorn Lane in Sea Pines Plantation, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Rick has many passions and was involved in many organizations. He was a past Vice a President of Hilton Head Island Jaycees, a member of the Knights of Columbus (3rd order), a Charter Member and first acting President of the Working Island Families of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and a Charter Member of the Chester Community Association. Rick was a member of the Low Country Oyster and Motorcar Driving Society, the Motor Racing Outreach, and a Board Member of the Chesterfield Confederate Heritage Foundation. He was a member of the Virginia Society, Military Order of the Stars and Bars, the Derring-Beauregard Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Chesterfield Yellor Jackets Co. C. 9th VA Infantry. Rick was a Virginia Tech graduate and member of the Virginia Tech Silver Holkie Club. One of his passions was driving race cars. He ran in the weekly Winston Racing Series, participated on a much lesser level with his ZR-1 corvette, driving on tracks like Daytona, Atlanta and Rockingham. He raced at Pocono in August of 2003. Most importantly, Rick was a loving husband and devoted father. He is survived by his wife, Sherry and his two daughters, Byron Elizabeth (age 4) and Grace Harrison (age 1); his mother and father, Jean and Fred Minson of Colonial Heights; sisters, Stacy Minson Wallace and Kelly Minson Guilford, both of Chester; and brother, Andrew Thomas Minson of Ithaca, NY., and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. His remains rest at the J.T. Morriss and Son, Inc. funeral home in Petersburg where the family will have a wake service and receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 pm on Tuesday, May 25. The funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Wednesday, may 26 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Petersburg, Father Michael Renninger officiating. Interment will in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.