Masonry Magazine May 2002 Page. 31
INDUSTRY SADDENED BY LOSS
By Michael Adelizzi
Executive Director
Mason Contractors Association of America
Most of us who work in the masonry industry work hard every day. We want to do a good job, and we are driven by a desire to achieve success. We want to provide the best life we can for our families. Some of us even try to give something back to the industry. We serve our local or national Association. But few if any of us will ever know the degree of commitment it takes to devote your entire life to this industry. One of us did. George A. Miller devoted nearly every waking hour of his entire adult life to this industry. For more than fifty years, George Miller was our Lead Man.
On Tuesday, March 26th, 2002 the masonry industry in general, and Mason Contractors Association of America in particular, suffered a great loss with the passing of George Anton Miller. If the MCAA has a father, it is George Miller. He built this association. He served as our first Executive Vice President from the beginning in 1950 until his retirement in 1993. Even in retirement, George continued to serve us as an advisor, and in particular in the capacity of a Labor Relations Consultant. He did so, until the day he died.
During his fifty-two years of service to the MCAA and the masonry industry, George Miller was always in the forefront of leadership. During his tenure as Executive Vice President, the MCAA achieved many milestones. He was deeply involved with the formation of the International Pension Fund for the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen (IUBAC). He served as a Management Trustee on the IUBAC Pension Fund Board until the early 1990's. George Miller was also instrumental in the formation and development of the International Masonry Institute, the IMI. The IMI was the first such Masonry Promotion effort in the United States and Canada. Funded by Union Masonry Contractors, the IMI continues today as the largest single source of Promotion and Training for the masonry industry.
George Miller also assisted in developing the first formalized Masonry Training materials. MCAA books such as the All Weather Masonry Construction Manual and the Rough Terrain Forklift Training Manual all bear his clear finger prints. These materials are still vital today in training our industry's workforce.
George Miller was a nationally known and respected Management Labor Negotiator. He negotiated International Labor Agreements with the
George's death has saddened me beyond words, although not totally unexpected, it is still hard for me to accept. Some people say that those who leave a company/industry are quickly forgotten, and I guess that's true in some instances-but not in this case. He was a wise and generous mentor who touched many lives in our industry. We shall miss his counsel. I do already.
Richard Matthews
KMCO, Inc.
George Miller was never too busy to help members solve a problem. Large and small masonry contractors reaped benefit from George's expertise.
Richard Felice
Forrest & Associates
George Miller will be missed by the entire Masonry Industry. George was respected and loved by all.
Donald O. Leonard
Leonard Masonry
Whether it was labor relations, jurisdictional disputes or technical issues, George would find the answer. It didn't matter how large a contractor you were, if you were a member and had a problem, George would respond with whatever it took to resolve it.