Masonry Magazine February 1982 Page. 55
In Memoriam
MICHAEL E. BUSA, president of R. Busa & Sons, Inc., Chicago, and a well known industry leader in the Chicagoland area, died on November 30, 1981.
Mr. Busa was a founder of the Mason Contractors Association of Cook County and of the MCAA, a past president of the MCAA Cook County Chapter, and a trustee of Laborers District Council Health & Welfare Fund. He was active in all of the Chapter's activities and served on the board of directors of the successor group, the MCA of Greater Chicago, until his death.
Survivors include his wife, Lillian Biggio Busa; a son, Wayne R. Busa; two sisters, Ann Cirrintano and Carmen Busa; and two grandsons.
WILLIAM E. MITCHELL, retired owner of Southern Masonry Co. Inc., Fairdale, KY, and one of the area's leading mason contractors, died December 14, 1981, of an apparent heart attack. He was 63.
Mr. Mitchell was well known in the affairs of the masonry industry in Louisville, having served the Mason Contractors Association of Louisville as president and in many other elective offices.
Mr. Mitchell will be long remembered for his warm and genial personality and devotion to the industry.
Survivors include his wife, the former Georgia McCoy; three sons, William D., James R. and John M. Mitchell; four daughters, Mrs. Julia Jager, Mrs. Patricia Milliner, Mrs. Debra Mouser and Sherry Mitchell; three brothers, Oscar, Homer and Robert Mitchell, all of Cincinnati; three sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Grace, Mrs. Mona Gaines and Mrs. Ollie Hodle; 10 grandchildren, and a great-grand child.
T. D. "TED" HARRIS, vice president of the International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftsmen and one of the most widely liked and admired members of the International Union, died October 22, 1981 after attending the IU convention. He was 77.
Mr. Harris joined BAC in 1923 and two years later became business agent of the old Local 11 in Jacksonville, Fla., where he resided until his death. He spent most of his career with Local 2 in Florida and served there as secretary and business manager. He was a founder of the Florida State Conference and its secretary-treasurer for 33 years.
He joined the IU staff in 1951 as a special deputy and was elected a vice president in 1972. His father, the late Joseph Jackson Harris, was a bricklayer and BAC member, as is his son, Rodney N. Harris, also a Local 2 member. Mr. Harris was labor adviser to Governors Burns and Collins in Florida and president of the state boxing commission.
In addition to his son, Rodney, survivors include his wife, Lucy: a daughter, Mrs. George H. Carlton; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
ALLEN BENZICK, who served for more than a decade as director of the Minnesota Concrete Producers Association, died of arteriosclerosis on September 1, 1981. He was 59.
Born in Coblenz, Germany, Mr. Benzick was well known in the concrete and masonry products industries. He served as an officer and field engineer with the Portland Cement Association from June, 1946 to April, 1953. In July, 1965, he organized his own firm, Multiple Associations Management. He served as director of a number of industry groups including the MCPA and Aggregate Ready Mix.
SCAFFOLDS & HOIST TOWERS!
BI-ax NEW! PRESENTS. See Us At The MCAA SHOW for SOMETHING new Write or Phone Today! Heights to 72' Cap. to 1000 lbs. Gas or Electric Drive Bajax XL-H10 MATERIAL HOIST ONE LEVER OPERATION 3 You can't use more versatile, more durable equipment than Bil-Jax the complete line, including work platforms, swing stages, personnel lifts, and shoring equipment. Safe. fast-erecting versatile Proven best by contractors for hundreds of jobs New, speedy guardrail system, with built in 6 steel toe-boards BIL-JAX, INC. WORK PLATFORMS SWING STAGES ARCHBOLD, OHIO 43502 PHONE 419-445-8915 HYDRAULIC PERSONNEL LIFTS SHORING EQUIPMENT MASONRY/FEBRUARY, 1982 55