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(1915–1991)
Ramsay was born in Salisbury NC. His father, John Ernest Ramsay, was also an architect, but architecture in Salisbury early in the 20th century couldn't support a family, so the elder Ramsay became the manager of Harris Granite Company while continuing to design buildings, including many of the homes in the town's West Square Historic District.
Ramsay graduated from the McCallie School in Chattanooga TN. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina in 1938 and a Master of Architecture from Yale University in 1941. After graduation, he worked briefly for Carr and J. E. Greiner Architects and Engineers. Following active duty in the Navy from 1941-1946, he established John Erwin Ramsay Architect in Salisbury. In 1956, the firm became John Erwin Ramsay AIA Architect and Associates, Inc. It was Ramsay Associates from the 1970s through Ramsay's death. In 1992 the firm became Ramsay Burgin Smith Architects, with the addition of Bill Burgin and Donna Smith. As a strong proponent of Modernist architecture, Ramsay designed many award-winning Modernist residences and buildings, including the Rowan County Health and Agricultural Building, Alderman Studios, the American Square showroom for American of Martinsville Furniture in Thomasville, the Robertson Community Center in Salisbury, and the striking Fairfield Building, now the Broyhill Convention Center, below.
Ramsay's design talents extended to traditional structures as well, including the First Presbyterian Church and Rowan Public Library in Salisbury. He was president of AIANC in 1951, and became an FAIA in 1964. He served for many years as President of the NC Board of Architecture and was Vice president of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Ramsay's architectural practice spanned 50 years. He retired from practice in 1989 and died in 1991. In Raleigh, Ramsay designed the Chapel at Dorothea Dix Hospital. Two of his three sons, John and KC, became architects. John Erwin Ramsay FAIA: Portrait of an Architect, by Juanita Bouser Teschner.
2018 interview with sons John (r) and KC Ramsay (l). George Smart (middle) narrates.
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Sources include: Sons KC Ramsay and John Ramsay; Salisbury Post; Gray Stout; John Erwin Ramsay FAIA: Portrait of an Architect by Juanita Bouser; Gabe Nicholson.
