Lavone Dickensheets Andrews

Lavone Dickensheets Andrews, (September 18, 1912 – June 4, 2002) was an American architect, recognized for her contributions to residential architecture, office buildings, schools, and health facilities. Andrews was among the pioneering women in architecture, known for her innovative designs and dedication to the preservation of historical structures. She primarily worked in Houston, Texas.

Early life and education
Born on September 18, 1912, in Beaumont, Texas, Andrews was the daughter of Lavone (née Lowman) and Charles Dickensheets. Her father was a journalist. She attended Miss Hamlin's School for Girls (now the Hamlin School) in San Francisco, and the Marlborough School in Los Angeles before she graduated in 1929 from Beverly Hills High School.

She pursued her education in architecture at Rice Institute (now Rice University School of Architecture), where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1933, and a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture in 1934. She apprenticed with architect, John F. Staub.

Career
Andrews began her career working with prominent architects in the Southwest from 1934 to 1937 before opening her own office in Houston in 1938. Andrews also became a licensed architect in Texas in 1938. She had interest in residential architecture, but later expanded to design schools, health facilities, and office buildings.

Her career was distinguished by her association with Anderson, Clayton & Company, a leading cotton firm, where she served from 1941 to 1951. Later, she ventured into the oil and gas industry, becoming vice president of Ancon Oil & Gas in 1957, a position she held until 1994, and served as its president from 1992 to 1994.

Major projects
One of Andrews' most notable projects was the restoration of Knappogue Castle in County Clare, Ireland. Alongside her husband, Mark Edwin Andrews, she purchased the castle in 1966 and undertook a comprehensive restoration in collaboration with Shannon Development. The castle, originally built in 1467, had fallen into disrepair and was meticulously restored by the Andrews.

Awards and recognition
Andrews was recognized as one of the 10 outstanding women architects by American Architectural Record in 1947. Her work earned her numerous awards, including the Taisce Award for architectural excellence and the Europa Nostra Award for the important restoration of a European monument. She was made a fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1977, and also held fellowships in the Royal Institute of Architects Ireland.

Personal life and legacy
Andrews was married twice, first to Hugh Lennox Scott II in 1937, and after their divorce; to oil executive Mark Edwin Andrews in 1948, with whom she shared a son (and a step-daughter). Andrews' legacy is marked by her contributions to architecture and historic preservation, her role as a pioneering woman in architecture, and her influence on future generations of architects.