Masonry Magazine July 2005 Page. 44
News
Bay Harbor Resort Petoskey is the location of the association's annual fall meeting and board of director election. Several family activities are planned at the beautiful resort on the shores of Lake Michigan during the weekend of Sept. 16-18, 2005. For more information, please visit the MMCA web site at www.mmca-mi.com.
Minnesota
The Minnesota Concrete and Masonry Contractors Association's (MC&MCA) March general membership meeting held in Bloomington drew 30 participants to hear from state Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials. James Collins, Director of Workplace Safety Consultation, and Patricia Todd, State Program Administration Manager Enforcement, joined MC&MCA for dinner, updated the group on the way the two divisions work together and apart, and addressed concerns raised through questions from the MC&MCA attendees. (Note that the Minnesota and federal OSHA web sites are linked to the MC&MCA web site for easy access!) For more information on the MC&MCA, please visit www.mcmca.com.
North Carolina
Senior Dallas Caudle, a student of Todd Hartsell at Central Cabarrus High School in Concord, has repeated as North Carolina High School Masonry Champion and will return to Kansas City for the national contest this month. Representing North Carolina, Caudle finished the national contest with a Silver Medal in 2004. Rounding out the top five in the April 12 N.C. SkillsUSA contest at the Greensboro Coliseum were Josh Kimrey and Mason Widenhouse of Mount Pleasant High School, Devin Lowder of West Stanly High School and Kevin Greene, also of Central Cabarrus High School.
News continued on page 44
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In Memoriam
James Richard Snyder
James Richard Snyder, Sr., a founder of the Masonry Institute of Michigan (MIM), passed away on May 7, 2005, at his Detroit home after a long illness, at the age of 81.
Mr. Snyder was known as a very hard working man. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Mendocino during World War II. After the war, he learned the masonry trade and formed his own company, JR Snyder Co., Inc.
In 1958, Mr. Snyder helped to create the Masonry Institute of Michigan, the first state institute of its kind in the country. In addition, he was also the former Regional Vice President of the Mason Contractors Association of America and Chairman of the Research Committee, as well as the former President of the Detroit Mason Contractors Association.
In his spare time, Mr. Snyder started the Snyder Softball Club, which won two back-to-back U.S. Slo-Pitch Softball Association (USSSA) world championships. For his accomplishments in the sport, he was inducted into the USSSA Hall of Fame and the Michigan Amateur Sports Hall of Fame.
He retired in the late '80s, but continued to work as a consultant in the industry. "Basically whatever the man did, he didn't put his toes in - he dove in with both feet," says his son, Jon Snyder.
In addition to his son Jon, he is survived by sons James Jr., Joseph, Jerald, Jeff, Jay, Jack, Judd and Justin Snyder, daughters Susan Kelley and Nancy Bryant; three sisters, 30 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Eight of his children have followed Mr. Snyder's footsteps into the masonry industry; four of them are members of MIM, and two of those have served on the MIM Board.
Visitation was held May 8" at the Charles R. Step Funeral Home in Redford Township. The funeral was held at St. Valentine Catholic Church, also of Redford Township, on May 9,
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that memorial contributions be made to the LR. Snyder Memorial Scholarship Fund with the Masonry Institute of Michigan, 12870 Farmington Road, Livonia, MI 48150.
MCAA sends its deepest condolences to the Snyder family.
Information provided by Crain's Detroit Business, the Detroit Free Press and the Masonry Institute of Michigan.