Amde Amde and John Myers awarded TMS Fellow Membership

Words: Phillip SamblanetThe Masonry Society's (TMS) Board of Directors and Awards Committee recently awarded Dr. Amde Amde of the University of Maryland and Dr. John Myers of Missouri University of Science and Technology with Fellow Membership in the Society. Fellow membership is one of the highest awards that can be bestowed on a TMS Member and is granted only rarely for exceptional service by individuals who have been Members of TMS for more than 10 years. TMS formally recognized Amde and Myers at the 2014 TMS Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona on October 11. They join a distinguished list of TMS Fellows.

Dr. Amde Amde is a Professor at the University of Maryland. He has been a member of TMS since 1983 and has made significant contributions to masonry education, masonry research and masonry code development. His services to TMS have included serving (1996-present) as Associate Editor and Editor of the TMS Journal, Member MSJC (1983-1998), contributed to the development of Masonry Designers’ Guide (1st-3rd editions), co-hosted TMS’ Masonry Professors Workshop and served on technical committees of several TMS conferences (NAMC). He was one of the early developers and promoters of a university level masonry course. Has served as Principal Investigator on numerous masonry research projects sponsored by NSF, USDOE, Masonry Research Foundation, International Masonry Institute, The Masonry Institute of Iowa, and others. One of his US patents is related to masonry structures.

Dr. John J. Myers is a Professor a the Missouri University of Science and Technology and is Director of their Structural Engineering Research Laboratory. He has contributed to the scholarly and educational advancement in the masonry field. His scholarly contributions have included the development of alternative sustainable masonry products as well as the advancement in the hardening and strengthening of masonry systems for extreme events including blast. His scholarly efforts on fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) to masonry has encompassed issues related to out-of-plane blast mitigation, in-plane shear behavior, bond behavior, substrate characterization, fatigue, and durability performance. He has served three terms on the TMS Board of Directors, Conference Chair of the 10th NAMC, and currently serves on the TMS Technical Activities Committee (TAC).
Helical Beaming: Strengthening Masonry from the Inside Out
February 2026

In the world of masonry restoration and retrofit, the goal is always the same: preserve the character and craftsmanship of historic structures while ensuring their long-term stability. But anyone who has worked on century-old brick or stone buildings know

Tiffany Tillema
Technical Talks
Read More
A Practical Guide to Modern Masonry Restoration
February 2026

THE MYTH: Masonry Lasts Forever It’s strong, yes, but movement, moisture, and time still take their toll. Common Causes Why Masonry Fails: - Differential movement - Thermal expansion & contraction - Moisture intrusion & freeze–thaw - Corrosion of steel

MAP Partner
Read More
The 2026 MCAA Annual Online Auction
February 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America is thrilled to announce the 2026 Annual Online Auction, the masonry industry’s premier event for scoring the best equipment at a fraction of costs. Whether you are looking to expand your equipment stockpile or

Justin Stengel
Industry News
Read More
CMU Partitions: How Much Reinforcement Is Actually Required?
February 2026

Walk onto almost any job site and you’ll find masons laying out interior partitions much the same way they did decades ago. The work looks straightforward: stack the units, strike clean joints, and keep the wall plumb. And the function of these partitions

Technical Talks
Read More