Only a handful of men can claim to have changed the history of Pi Kappa Phi, and thanks to a meeting in October, 1976, with then Executive Director Durward Owen, Thomas Sayre is one of them.
In searching for a national project for the fraternity Durward found an artist/sculptor with the skill, talent, foresight, and most importantly, passion. Through Thomas’ eyes and hands, the beauty of South Mountains became the springboard for our national philanthropy, Push America. His design of the original play units launched a history of service to those with disabilities.
Sayre was inducted into Pi Kappa Phi’s Hall of Fame in 2007, which is just one of his extensive accolades. He has designed and built public and private art projects literally all over the world.
He grew up in Washington D.C., attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a Morehead Scholarship, and graduated summa cum laude in 1973. He then moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., where he was a Michigan Fellow with a three-year grant from the Ford Foundation to create sculpture at the University of Michigan. In 1975, Sayre attended the Master of Fine Arts Program at the Cranbrook Academy of Art.
He, along with his wife and two daughters make Raleigh their home.
Click here for more information about Thomas Sayre and his creativity.