NCMCA News and Events

Words: Brandy Shaver
/Public/News/20051227145329-1.jpg" width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="From left to right, champion Heath W. Drye, N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Steven W. Troxler, third-place finisher Travis Greenly of McGee Brothers Company, second-place finisher Joshua Ferguson of Griffin Masonry, and N.C. Commissioner of Labor Cherie K. Berry.">
From left to right, champion Heath W. Drye, N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Steven W. Troxler, third-place finisher Travis Greenly of McGee Brothers Company, second-place finisher Joshua Ferguson of Griffin Masonry, and N.C. Commissioner of Labor Cherie K. Berry.

Heath W. Drye is the champion of the 52nd Annual North Carolina Department of Labor State Fair Masonry Apprentice Contest held Oct. 17 in Raleigh, N.C.

Heath is an apprentice with C. M. Allmon Masonry of Mt. Pleasant. Prior to his two summers at Allmon, he took masonry for three years at Mt. Pleasant High School in Concord, N.C. as a student of instructor Doug Drye (no relation) — the nation's most successful high school masonry instructor, with seven SkillsUSA gold medals in masonry. In 2003, Heath placed second in the N.C. VICA/SkillsUSA high school masonry contest.

Heath is a junior at Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, N.C., studying pre-engineering. He plans to transfer to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte or North Carolina State University to complete a degree in construction engineering and ultimately plans to have his own general contracting firm.

This year is the 52nd consecutive year for the state fair contest. The masonry industry donated more than $7,000 in cash, tools and materials for this year's event. Also, Calvin Brodie of Brodie Contractors in Raleigh served as contest chairman and Doug Burton of Whitman Masonry in Benson served as the contest head judge.

/Public/News/20051227145329-2.jpg" width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="President Danks Burton (far right) congratulates the Manning Masonry team of (left to right) Troy Raynor, Randy Manning, Tim Manning and NCMCA Secretary/Treasurer Gary Manning.">
President Danks Burton (far right) congratulates the Manning Masonry team of (left to right) Troy Raynor, Randy Manning, Tim Manning and NCMCA Secretary/Treasurer Gary Manning.

The Manning Masonry team garnered a first place finish at the 13th Annual North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association (NCMCA) State Golf Tournament at Graham, N.C, on Sept. 22.

Other winners from the event included the Charlotte Wire-Bond team for second, followed by the CEMEX team from Greensboro. Troy Raynor won longest-drive, and closest-to-the-pin recognition went to Raul Agundis, Larry Kirby, Tony LaVene and Neal Braxton. Braxton was within inches of claiming the Arrow Equipment Lull forklift hole-in-one prize.

Danny Batten and Lafarge North America supplied barbecue chicken for the 100 golfers who participated. The event raised over $7,000 for NCMCA projects.

For more information on NCMCA, please visit www.ncmca.com.

The Benefits of Concealed Lintel Systems in Modern Masonry
June 2026

When looking at iconic structures built throughout history, one of the most recognizable architectural elements is the masonry arch. These arches are not only aesthetically and visually pleasing but also serve as an engineering solution for structural sta

What’s New With CMU: A Closer Look From Ken Rathbun
June 2026

Anyone who’s spending time around CMU jobs today can see the shift. Concrete masonry isn’t just the backup wall; it is the finish on more projects. Thanks in part to the CMU check-off program and a broader focus on design and education, architects and own

Kyle Field at Texas A&M
June 2026

The $450 million redevelopment of Texas A&M’s football stadium, Kyle Field, was one of the most high-profile projects in Echelon and Amerimix history. With the renovation, Kyle Field’s capacity increased to 102,733, making it the biggest college stadium i

2026 Masonry Foundation Grants Now Open
June 2026

The Masonry Foundation is dedicated to advancing the masonry industry and is accepting grant applications for 2026. Proposals should have national reach and aim to generate substantial progress within the masonry industry. To explore examples of past gra