Noted Southern California-based Landscape Architect Courtland Paul passed away on January 28 of congenital heart failure due to complications with his pacemaker. He was 75. Paul was very instrumental with licensing of Landscape Architects in the state and was the Landscape Architect on many of Southern California?EUR??,,????'???s master planned communities such as Irvine, Mission Viejo and Lake Forest. Of all things it was being fired from his job with a landscape company and an ill-fated prediction by his former employers that thrust Paul into starting his own company. Paul?EUR??,,????'???s wife of 55 years, Nadine remembers those early days fondly. ?EUR??,,????'??He worked for a landscape company that was owned by several rich men,?EUR??,,????'?? she told LASN. ?EUR??,,????'??He went in one day and asked for more money. Well, they fired him instead and he ended up starting his own business. His former bosses told him he wouldn?EUR??,,????'???t last six months on his own.?EUR??,,????'?? In 1951 he opened his own practice and in two years time had a staff of four designers and 20 crew members. In 1954 he was one of the first licensed Landscape Architects in the state of California. According to Rae Price, Principal of Peridian International, Inc. which was started by Paul, he held license number 49. ?EUR??,,????'??He started the licensing law for Landscape Architects in California,?EUR??,,????'?? said Burton Sperber, President of ValleyCrest Companies and friend of Paul?EUR??,,????'???s for more than 50 years. He wasn?EUR??,,????'???t always interested in designing the landscape. Since he was a teenager Paul had worked on the landscape contracting end of things, until one day he decided to try his hand at designing. ?EUR??,,????'??He had a landscape contracting company,?EUR??,,????'?? Nadine said. ?EUR??,,????'??One day he told me, ?EUR??,,????'??I don?EUR??,,????'???t want to build landscapes anymore, I?EUR??,,????'???d rather design them.?EUR??,,????'??? We had never heard of landscape architecture before, and Cal Poly, where he went to school, only offered ornamental horticulture classes at the time, so that?EUR??,,????'???s what he took.?EUR??,,????'?? In 1955 at age 27 he became a founding member of the American Institute of Landscape Architects and served as director for five years. Later he was appointed by then governor Pat Brown to a four-year term on the California State Board of Landscape Architects. Paul was a part of several organizations including the Committee of Landscape Architectural Student Scholarships Fund (CLASS Fund) and was president of the Landscape Architecture Foundation. ?EUR??,,????'??For an untold number of years Cort had been a leader of men, and a true supporter of everything that the CLASS Fund stands for,?EUR??,,????'?? said Andy Bowden, Chairman of the Board of Directors for LAF/CLASS Fund. ?EUR??,,????'??He served on countless committees over the years, and was always there to lend his support, his enthusiasm, and ideas to all of us to make CLASS Fund even more successful. He was truly the John Wayne of landscape architecture in California.?EUR??,,????'?? Paul was also one of the main catalysts in bringing the AILA and the American Society of Landscape Architects together. ?EUR??,,????'??He was a real forward thinker in the profession,?EUR??,,????'?? Price said. ?EUR??,,????'??He gave a speech when he was running for president of AILA about bringing them and the ASLA together. That?EUR??,,????'???s probably the main reason he wasn?EUR??,,????'???t elected.?EUR??,,????'?? In 1976 Paul changed the name of his company to Peridian Group as he told LASN in 1986, ?EUR??,,????'??to reflect an aura of permanence about the company.?EUR??,,????'?? Paul, a Fellow of ASLA, was one of only a few people to appear on the cover of LASN when his smiling face and well-known bow tie graced the March 1986 issue. ?EUR??,,????'??He was one of the most inspirational people I have ever met,?EUR??,,????'?? LASN publisher George Schmok said. ?EUR??,,????'??His ever present bow tie always accompanied a smile that brought grace into every room in which he entered. I am just one of truly millions who have experienced his influence. I can only hope the Good Lord was getting ready to open a new region in heaven, and needed the best help He could get, if so, He definitely got the best.?EUR??,,????'?? Last December Paul experienced one of the great thrills of his life getting to see his granddaughter Wendy?EUR??,,????'???s wedding in Illinois. ?EUR??,,????'??He wasn?EUR??,,????'???t going to go, because he shouldn?EUR??,,????'???t have been flying but we both made it there,?EUR??,,????'?? Nadine said. ?EUR??,,????'??It meant so much to our granddaughter.?EUR??,,????'?? At the reception the Paul?EUR??,,????'???s shared an anniversary dance. The DJ then asked couples to leave the dance floor depending on the number of years they were married. The only couple left standing was Courtland and Nadine. Their daughter Pamela Paul-Burns said her father loved what she called the ?EUR??,,????'??hokey?EUR??,,????'?? Kenny Rogers country song ?EUR??,,????'??Through the Years,?EUR??,,????'?? and he wept with emotion as the song played. Paul is survived by Nadine, four children (one deceased), nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. ?EUR??,,????'??I am sure everyone who was ever associated with Cort always felt special,?EUR??,,????'?? Golf Architect Cal Olson said. ?EUR??,,????'??He just made you feel that way.?EUR??,,????'?? In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Courtland Paul Scholarship Fund, administered by LAF. Checks can be sent to LAF, Attention: Ron Figura, 818 18th St. NW, Washington DC 20006.