2016 Douglas Drye Award

Words: Lynn NashFor the second year in a row Fred T. Foard High School in Catawba County received the 2016 Doug Drye Award for best overall performance in the masonry competitions at the 2016 Greensboro NC SkillUSA State Conference in
April.

The Overall Performance Award is named in honor of Douglas Drye who retired from Mount Pleasant High in 2008 and still holds the record for the most high school national masonry champions of all the masonry instructors in the country. The award is presented by NCMCA and The Southeast Concrete Masonry Association.

Fred T. Foard High School is a three-time Drye Award winner having also earned the recognition in 2012 and 2015.

In the photo, NCMCA President Bob Gates, right of plaque, presents the award to instructor Rick Greene, left of plaque, joined by the seniors in Greene’s masonry class, industry officials and local masonry contractors: standing right to left, C.E.Moser and Wayne Starr, officers of the Western Carolina NCMCA chapter; Byard Stevens, President of the Southeast Concrete Masonry Association; masonry contractor Neil Dellinger; and President Gates.
Using Respirators for Silica Exposure
July 2025

Some in the masonry industry have expressed interest in respirator use as protection from harmful exposure to silica. This topic is of paramount importance due to its impact on our workers and the serious health effects of silica exposure. For those new t

From Bikes to Buildings: The Importance of Embracing Rainscreen Wall Designs and the New Building Codes.
July 2025

Have you ever been asked to do a project over the course of your lifetime? For example, when my kids were little, my wife asked me to assemble their bicycles. So, I opened the box, dumped out the contents, and cast aside whatever I thought was unnecessary

Laying the Foundation for Growth: Concrete Masonry Checkoff Unveils Five-Year Vision for Industry
July 2025

The Concrete Masonry Checkoff (CMC) put the finishing touches on an ambitious five-year vision for the industry, targeting a 20% increase in market share, driven by increased demand for concrete masonry products. “This is about building exquisite, enduri

Five of the Seven Chimneys Have Been Saved: Project Chimney Update
July 2025

In the wake of the devastating January wildfires that swept through Los Angeles's Pacific Palisades, a remarkable preservation effort is underway, spearheaded by Project Chimney, an initiative led by Evan Hall, founding director of the non-profit House Mu