Bruce Crabtree

Crabtree was born on September 1, 1923 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.[1][2] He attended Vanderbilt University in 1942, Clemson University in 1943–1944, and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, where he earned a bachelor's degree in architecture in 1948.[2][3]

The Andrew Jackson State Office Building, designed by Taylor & Crabtree.

Crabtree co-founded the architectural firm Taylor & Crabtree in 1952.[2] They designed Ben West Library (then the Nashville Public Library) in 1966,[3][4] the Andrew Jackson State Office Building in 1969, the James K. Polk State Office Building in 1981, and the Rachel Jackson State Office Building in 1985.[2] He was elected as a fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1983.[2] With fellow architects David and Ed Johnson, Crabtree co-founded Johnson Johnson Crabtree Architects, another architectural firm, in 1991.[2] Crabtree also designed the St. Henry Catholic Church.[1]

Crabtree first served on the planning zoning boards of Belle Meade, Tennessee, where he was the chairman of the zoning board of appeals for six years.[3] In 1988, he succeeded John Clay as interim commissioner of Belle Meade, Tennessee,[3] and he was elected in November of the same year.[5] He served as its vice mayor by 1992.[6] He "shaped the community and rewrote its zoning ordinance", and made it look like "an almost Norman Rockwellesque community" according to his son.[1]

Crabtree was awarded the Medal of Merit by the Tennessee Society of Architects.[3]

Crabtree married Dolly Nance Fischer in 1948.[2] They had five children.[1] They resided in Belle Meade.[3]

Crabtree died on May 3, 2014.[1] His funeral was held at the St. Henry Catholic Church in Nashville.[1]