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Thirty-Four Apprentice Bricklayers Complete Training Programs in St. Louis

Words: Francine AbramoffThirty-four apprentice bricklayers completed their 3-1/2-year training programs in 2006, and have received their journeyman cards. A list of new journeymen was made public in a joint announcement by John J. Smith, Jr., chairman of the Masonry Institute of St. Louis; Donald Brown, business manager of Bricklayers' Union Local No. 1 of Missouri and co-chairman of the school's joint trust; and Richard K. Swanson, president of Swanson Masonry and co-chairman of the school's joint trust.

The following list includes graduates for the period of January-December 2006. The new journeymen and their sponsoring firms are:

  • Robert Allen, JDS Masonry
  • Richard Barber, H.F. Booth & Sons
  • Dwayne Bell, St. Charles Brick Co.
  • Bryon Bowman, Patrico Masonry
  • Brian Bradley, Grant Contracting Co.
  • Eric Bradley, Spencer Brickwork
  • Jacob Busk, John J. Smith Masonry Co.
  • Matt Coriel, Superior Waterproofing & Restoration
  • Terry Daniel, John J. Smith Masonry Co.
  • Ben Douglas, Jahnsen Masonry Contracting
  • Chris Dover, Heitkamp Masonry
  • Jonathon Fiore, Robert Allman Inc.
  • Matt Gerdes, Doug Nichols Masonry
  • Jeff Heppermann, Doug Nichols Masonry
  • Adam Herring, Superior Waterproofing & Restoration
  • Todd Jacobs, John J. Smith Masonry Co.
  • Scott Knese, E.C. Landers Brickwork
  • Brian Koch, Sullentrup Bricklaying, LLC
  • Joshua Kreher, Spencer Brickwork
  • Jason Oberdas, Bergmann Masonry
  • Randel Norris, The Harlan Co.
  • Todd Roe, Superior Waterproofing & Restoration
  • Jim Russom, John J. Smith Masonry Co.
  • Michael Schott, Burt Masonry
  • John Stringer, L & L Brick Contracting Co.
  • Rick Struttmann, Leonard Masonry
  • Charles Teal, Western Waterproofing Co.
  • Craig Thomas, Thomas Masonry
  • Jason Thomas, John J. Smith Masonry Co.
  • James Thompson, Leonard Masonry
  • Nathan Tyra, The Harlan Co.
  • Cannon Williams, Spencer Brickwork
  • Jason Wright, Spencer Brickwork
  • Jeremiah Yount, Spencer Brickwork
The local apprentice program has been in operation for approximately 140 years, producing the skilled union bricklayers who have created the St. Louis area's renowned heritage of masonry structures. Through the support of Bricklayers' Union Local No. 1 of Missouri, the Mason Contractors Association-St. Louis and area masonry suppliers, the Bricklayers' Apprenticeship School has become a model for bricklayer apprentice programs across the country.
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