Tom Marshall (architect)

Tom Marshall is an award-winning architect who served on the Memphis City Council [http://www.cityofmemphis.org/framework.aspx?page=689] for 21 years. Drawing on his background as a member of the American Arbitration Association, Marshall frequently served as mediator for some of Memphis’ potentially divisive issues, including construction of the $250 million FedEx Forum [http://www.fedexforum.com/homepage.aspx] arena for the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis’ highly ranked basketball team. After serving his fifth term, Marshall announced that he would not run for re-election in 2007. Marshall served on Memphis City Council from 1986 until 2007. [http://memphistn.gov/framework.aspx?page=708] In addition to the part-time position, he worked as an architect with his father, O.T. Marshall III. [http://www.memphisheritage.org/MHIHost/Architects-OTMarshall.htm] Marshall continued the architectural tradition, receiving a bachelor of architecture degree from University of Tennessee, a Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and studying at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom. Following his graduation, Marshall worked in the New York architectural firm of Edward Durrell Stone before devoting his full attention to his father’s firm in Memphis, O.T. Marshall Architects, [http://www.otmarshall.com/] where Marshall’s architectural designs were honored with the La Biennale di Venezia Design Award, [http://www.labiennale.org/en/] awards from American Institute of Architects and the Health Care International Design Award. Prominent buildings designed by Marshall include St. Francis Hospital in Bartlett, TN [http://www.saintfrancisbartlett.com/CWSContent/saintfrancisbartlett/default.aspx] ; Champion Hills Office Building in Memphis [http://www.belz.com/oldwebsite/realestate/office/championhills/index.html] ; Bally’s Casino in Tunica, MS; Carnes Elementary School in Memphis [http://www.mcsk12.net/schools/carnes.es/carneshome.html] ; University of Memphis Book Store [http://umemphis.bncollege.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/BNCBHomePage?storeId=15060&catalogId=10001&langId=-1] , and a number of cutting edge residences. In addition, Marshall developed the Master Plan for State of Arkansas Task Force to Joint Committee on Educational Facilities [http://www.arkansasfacilities.com/pdf/history32504.pdf] and Memphis City Schools Five-Year Comprehensive Plan. As chairman of the City Council, he targeted as his priorities a crime plan that gives Memphians up-to-date tracking data, [http://memphistn.gov/framework.aspx?page=689] an emphasis on making government more accessible, passage of a new ethics plan [http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=6571375] that called for greater transparency in city government, an investigation into allegations of preferential treatment [http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=6577599] at Memphis Light, Gas and Water (the city’s public utility), and creation of a new Unified Development Code [http://memphis.code-studio.com/] that is anchored in “smart growth” for Memphis [ http://www.cityofmemphis.org/framework.aspx?page=1] and Shelby County. [ [http://www.shelbycountytn.gov/appmanager/scexternal/content?_nfpb=false&_nfls=false&_pageLabel=home] ]

References

Further reading

*Charlier, Tom. “Digital billboards grab attention.” The Commercial Appeal, May 28, 2007.
*Fontenay, Blake. “Nighttime in the switching yard for council.” The Commercial Appeal, April 23, 2007.
*Jones, Jacinthia. “Council vows ethics reform.” The Commercial Appeal, January 03, 2007.
*“THE VERDICT - JOHN FORD TRIAL - GREATER MEMPHIS REACTS.” The Commercial Appeal, April 28, 2007.