Andrew S. Pappas, 1926-2022
Andrew Pappas (Andy) was one of the most influential figures in my life, as a father should be. But more than just a father, I was blessed to have him as a business partner and a mentor. As you might imagine, it was not always peaches and cream working with each other. We would often have our differences, as stubborn Greeks always do, but we would always be able to resolve them, which led to a very successful partnership.
While my father had a long and distinguished career, the most memorable times for me were family times. Andy, born on Dec. 28, 1926, in Cheyenne, WY, knew my mom since they were very small children, and on June 19, 1949, he married Theoni Harrison, his childhood sweetheart. Come December 1950, I showed up, followed by four siblings. Our immediate family and the Pappas/Harrison extended family would be my dad’s greatest joy in life. All his children are married and very successful, with many grand- and great-grandchildren. He was so proud of his family that he wrote and published a book entitled The History of the Andrew & Theoni Pappas Family.
Andy attended Cheyenne High School and graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in Civil Engineering. During college, he worked many jobs to pay for his education. He worked in the family restaurant, the Valencia Café in Cheyenne, for United Airlines at their maintenance base in Cheyenne, as a Union Pacific Railroad brakeman, did traffic counts and road inventory for the WY Highway Department and was a “hasher” at the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority in Laramie.
After college graduation in 1949, he immediately went to work for the Wyoming Highway Department in the Planning Division. However, he also worked part-time as a bartender at the Valencia and Pioneer Bars in Cheyenne and was the secretary of the Cheyenne Liquor Dealer’s Association. In 1956, Gus Hollo, an architect in Cheyenne who had his office near the Valencia above the Lincoln Theater, was hired to remodel the family bar. During the project, my father worked with Morris Kemper, who worked for Gus. Jokingly, my father told Morris to hire him so he could work for him and learn the profession.
After jesting with Morris, he stated he would be of no benefit to him since he did not have architectural training, and they laughed it off. The next time he saw Morris, he told him to think seriously about their conversation, but with one additional thought – Andy agreed to work at no cost to Morris. However, he was still reluctant to agree, saying that he would feel bad not paying him. But, long story short, my dad finally convinced him he would not go hungry, and they agreed that my dad would work for him with no obligations toward one another.
Andy worked for about six months like this. His drafting skills improved immensely while mimicking Morris’ drawing and lettering style. Getting very busy, Morris approached him and asked him if he would go to work full-time. My dad accepted and agreed that he would work nine hours a day at $80.00 per week or $1.78/hr. Fortunately, he made more than that at the Valencia, the family bar and restaurant. Andy would be with the Kemper Firm for the next 26 years.
In 1982, two years after I became licensed, I convinced my father that we should go into business together, and Pappas & Pappas Architects was created. My father and I made a perfect match. I had a lot of design skills, graduating from a very design-oriented school, and he had a wealth of experience regarding construction detailing and project management, as well as his depth of knowledge in civil engineering. Our practice was very enjoyable to both of us and to my brother, Driko Pappas, who also joined the firm. We had very dedicated employees, who were always like family to us, and we had the world’s greatest clients. We practiced together until Dad retired in 1995 at the age of 68. He truly left his mark on many outstanding architectural projects throughout Wyoming.
Andy was always the consummate volunteer, offering his expertise on many boards and committees, including the Wyoming State Board of Architects and Landscape Architects, the City of Cheyenne Board of Adjustments, and Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church Parish Council, just to mention a few. Andy had a passion for history and spent countless hours researching and writing two books: his family’s history and Orthodoxy on the High Plains. In addition to his devoted faith, Andy was also a private pilot, an avid Pokes fan, a lover of jazz music and corny jokes. In fact, one of his requests was to have a jazz band at his funeral, which was welcomed and enjoyed by all who attended.
Many architects, clients, and friends of my father have reached out to me, my mom, and our family with love and condolences, and we appreciate and thank you all for your great kindness. In his 95 years on this earth, Andy left a great legacy for his family and profession. While we will miss him, we hope we’ll be with him again one day, and until then, we have great memories of a life well lived.
May His Memory Be Eternal.
