Past NCMCA President Doug Burton regularly refers to Patrick Rand as “The Professor of Masonry.” Indeed, NC State’s Professor J. Patrick Rand has proven to be among the Nation’s leading authorities on masonry performance, research, and design. He is a past president of The Masonry Society, has authored several books, received numerous professional awards and recognitions, and has been an instructor for the NCMCA Masonry Contractor Certification Program since the program’s inception in 2006. Some twenty years ago, Professor Rand and Doug Burton created the Sigmon Memorial Design Scholarship at NC State, also now awarded at Appalachian State University. In June, after forty-four years, Rand retired as a Distinguished Professor of Architecture in the College of Design at NC State University. Masonry association officials joined Professor Rand and NC State College of Design faculty and staff in July for a lunch to discuss masonry-supported scholarships as Professor Rand steps away from his teaching role. Left to right, Doug Burton; NCMCA Executive Vice President Lynn Nash and President Danks Burton; Professor Rand; Frank Werner, retired from Adams/Oldcastle; David McQueen, Adams/Oldcastle; and Southeast Concrete Masonry Association President James Cain. Photo by Lauren Hipp.