Masonry Magazine December 1989 Page. 42
Michael Lubinski, bricklayer apprentice with C. J. Milligan Masonry Contractor, builds a typical brick and concrete block pier during the recent Apprentice Contest. He was the contest winner for first year bricklayer apprentices. The competition was jointly sponsored by the Mason Contractors Association of St. Louis and Bricklayers' Local No. 1 of Missouri.
Bill Cartlidge (left) from Roy A. Elam Masonry, Inc. and John Smith, Sr. of John J. Smith Masonry Co. build a concrete block wall during the St. Louis masonry industry's first Contractor Challenge. Cartlidge and Smith both began their careers as apprentices in Bricklayers' Local Union No. 1 of Missouri. (Photos by Carl F. Freeman)
The St. Louis Challenge
The first joint Apprentice Contest and Contractor Challenge in St. Louis tested the skills and abilities of both bricklayer apprentices and mason contractors. The event was held at the Masonry Industry Training Facility and was designed to highlight the skills of bricklayer apprentices and focus construction industry attention on masonry craftsmanship.
The Sept. 16 competition was attended by almost 200 St. Louis bricklayers, contractors, and construction industry officials.
Bricklayer apprentices completed in three categories based on their length of time in the apprentice program. In 45 minutes they were to build a typical brick and concrete block pier. Judging was based on craftsmanship, appearance, and the amount of work completed.
In the 1st Year Apprentice group, the winner was Michael Lubinski from C. J. Milligan Masonry Contractor. Second place was awarded to Michael Fox, who is employed by the Fred L. Davis Co.
The 2nd Year Apprentice group winner was Mark Savage from G & W Masonry. A second place winner was not named.
Winner of the 3rd Year Apprentice group was Dwight Davis from Fred L. Davis Co. Second place went to Paul Mers of Patrico Bricklaying Co.
First place winners in each group received a four-foot masonry level while second place finishers were given a trowel. Each participating apprentice was given a modular masonry rule.
Following the apprentice competition, four teams of two mason contractors each competed in the Contractor Challenge. In this event, the contractor teams were required to build a wall 12-feet long and six courses high using eight-inch concrete blocks. They were given 45 minutes to complete their work, but all were finished in less than 30 minutes.
After contest judges checked each each wall twice, the team of Marvin Peebles, Marvin Peebles Masonry Co., and John J. Smith, Jr., John J. Smith Masonry Co., was declared the winner.
Other competing contractor teams were Klem Beirith, Beirith Bricklaying Co., and Paul Finder. J. Paul Finder Brick Work; John Abeln and Rich Abeln of John Abeln Bricklaying Co.; and John J. Smith, Sr., John J. Smith Masonry Co., and Bill Cartlidge, Roy A. Elam Masonry, Inc.
"The contractors' work was all extremely good." said Ron Pfleger, one of the judges and president of the Mason Contractors Association of St. Louis (MCA). "We had to look at the walls very closely to determine a winner."
Other judges for the contest were Karl Kloster, senior vice president, McCarthy Brothers Construction Co., Peggy Pherigo, officer manager of Stelmachi, Cochran and Sauerburger (a St. Louis accounting firm). Jim Guilfoy of Rockwell Lime Co., and Jerry Cronin, business agent for Bricklayers Local No. 1 of Missouri.
The contests were jointly sponsored by MCA's Associate Advisory Committee and Bricklayers Local No. 1. Some 23 MCA associate member firms, who are suppliers to the masonry industry, made material and cash contributions to support the event.
MASONRY EXPO SEMINARS
continued from page 26
2:15 to 5:00 p.m.
Masonry Expo Session VIII-"Proper Inspection Techniques to Insure Quality Masonry Products"
Civic Plaza-Rooms 29/34
Presented by: Jake Ribar, Construction Technology Laboratories, Skokie, IL
2:15 to 5:00 p.m.
Masonry Expo Session IX-"Masonry Restoration"
Civic Plaza-Rooms 30/35
• Presented by: Fran Gale, Director, ProSoCo, Inc., Kansas City, KS
42 MASONRY-NOVEMBER/DECEMBER, 1989