At an October recognition dinner held in Asheville, NCMCA announced David Bass as the recipient of the 2020 NCMCA Eleanor Flowers Upton Award for long-term distinguished and exceptional service and dedication to the Association and the masonry industry by an associate member. The Upton Award selection committee approved David Bass’s nomination in early 2020 and had planned to announce and present the award at the 2020 annual NCMCA spring convention that was canceled because of the pandemic. A video announcement was prepared in the summer of 2021 and was debuted at the Asheville dinner. Pictured left to right, the most recent previous Upton Award recipient from 2018, David McQueen; 2020 honoree David Bass, his wife Kim, and their son JD.  David Bass is retired from Adams/Oldcastle, Asheville.   CLICK HERE TO WATCH NCMCA’S PRERECORDED ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE AWARD

In July, the North Carolina Masonry Instructors Association met in Greensboro and elected new officers for the 2022-2023 term. Left to right, new Vice President, Fred Mason of Columbus College & Career Academy; new President Matthew Almond, North Stanly High School; out-going President Rodney Harrington, West Rowan High School, who served six years because of the pandemic; new secretary Chris Garner, Lee County High School; and new Treasurer Roland Dixon, Pender County High School. McGee Brothers Company hosted the instructors for a day of continuing education that included lunch provided by McGee Brothers Company and Adams/Oldcastle. Among the day’s activities were hands-on demonstrations by Masonry Cosmetics, East Coast Brick Staining, iQ Power Tools, EZG Manufacturing, and Stabila.

NCMCA associate member firm EastWest Products hosted the annual “Butch Hardy Top Trowel” competition in May at their manufacturing and retail facility in Kinston. Masonry students from Pender County High School, North Lenoir High School, and Columbus Career & College Academy participated, a somewhat smaller number of schools than usual because of pandemic school travel policies. Students competed for cash and tool prizes and enjoyed a hotdog and hamburger lunch courtesy of Manning Masonry. Columbus Career & College Academy had a “clean-sweep,” with their team winning the top three places. Pictured left to right, Parrish Hoffman, EastWest Products; Third Place finisher Kalyn Stover; Brantley Rivers, EastWest Products; Second Place Finisher Israel Bugarin; Columbus College & Career Academy masonry instructor Fred Mason; 2021 Winner and Champion Annayeli Dionisio; and Brett Hardy, EastWest Products. 

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.

Anderson Pruett of West Rowan High School is the Champion of the National SkillsUSA High School Masonry Contest for 2022. Pruett’s win makes North Carolina’s 39th National Masonry Gold Medal and brings the total medal count for North Carolina to 56, including 15 “Silver” and two “Bronze.” The masonry competition was part of the 58th Annual SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference held in Atlanta in June. Pictured left to right, Bronze Medalist Ross Nye of Ohio, Gold Medalist Anderson Pruett of North Carolina, and Silver Medalist Samuel Berryman of Pennsylvania. NCMCA’s Ryan Shaver co-chairs the SkillsUSA National Masonry Contest Committee along with Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) President Jeff Buczkiewicz. West Rowan High School Masonry Instructor Rodney Harrington, whose students hold three other National Gold Medals, accompanied Pruett for the Atlanta event.  Photo courtesy of Rodney Harrington.