Masonry Industry Leaders Paige, Borden Pass Away

Words: Dan KamysEugene Wallace Paige Jr. of Salisbury, N.C., passed away Jan. 4 at Glenn A. Kiser Hospice House. Born Oct. 12, 1946, in Rowan County, N.C., he was a son of the late Eugene Wallace Paige, Sr. and Buelah Evington Paige. He was a graduate of Boyden High School and East Carolina University. He was employed with the NC State Highway Department and then with the sales department of Carolina Custom Brick in Raleigh. He was an avid duck hunter, fisherman and golfer. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Louisburg, N.C. Frank Kennon Borden Sr. died peacefully at his home in Hope Valley, Durham, N.C., on Jan. 4. Borden began his career with the Borden Brick & Tile Co. in the sales department. In 1970, he became president of the company, and in 1987, he became chairman. He retired in 1989. He served as a director of the Brick Institute of America and Wachovia Bank of Durham. He was also the former director and president of the Brick Association of North Carolina and a former board member of Borden Manufacturing Co., the American Ceramic Society, and Southchem Inc. A memorial service celebrating Borden’s life was held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Durham. Masonry Magazine wishes to express our deepest condolences for the loss of these two great men.
Color Trends Shaping Today’s Masonry Projects
July 2026

Homeowners today are coming into projects with a lot more opinions than they used to have. Between social media, home shows and contractor sites, most customers already have a look in mind before you even quote the job. For masonry contractors, having a

The New Equation for Masonry Profit: Predictable Hardware and Proven Data
July 2026

The masonry industry is built on tradition, but modern growth requires a shift from guesswork to absolute certainty. When we talk about the philosophy that you cannot improve what you do not measure, we are looking at the literal minutes and manpower lost

Owen Heimbach
July 2026

This month, the MCAA had the pleasure of speaking with SkillsUSA First Place Winner Owen Heimbach, a young mason just starting out whose enthusiasm for bricklaying is truly contagious. His passion for the craft was evident throughout our interview.

Backfill Your Foundation
July 2026

I’ve been noticing an uptick in a very specific kind of application lately, and once you see the pattern, you can’t unsee it. The résumé usually reads like a family photo album. “Started helping my dad when I was 15.” “Worked summers, then full time.” “R