Bounds Awarded C. DeWitt Brown Leadman Award

By Tim O’Toole

Each year, the Mason Contractors Association of America presents the C. DeWitt Brown Leadman Award to an individual who has provided exemplary leadership in advancing the masonry industry. All of the individuals who have received this prestigious award have demonstrated a tireless dedication to our industry through years of volunteer support and hard work. They have helped to ensure that our industry remains vital for the nearly 500,000 people employed through masonry.

MCAA Chairman John Smith presented the 2013 C. DeWitt Brown Leadman Award to Mackie Bounds of Brazos Masonry Inc. in Waco, Texas, during the MCAA Annual Meeting at the 2013 MCAA Convention in Las Vegas.

Bounds grew up in the retail carpet business. He came in contact with the masonry world at the age of 16 while working as a laborer. Since that time, he has always worked in some phase of construction.

Upon graduating, he pursued a career in landscaping, became a landscape designer and at the age of 21 owned and operated a successful wholesale greenhouse and plant leasing business. Bounds moved to Texas in 1980 and worked in Waco for Barsh Construction and Kent Mill & Supply (architectural design and woodworking manufacturer) as an estimator. Throughout this time he remained fascinated with the masonry industry and continued to take advantage of opportunities in masonry.

In 1982, Bounds became Vice-President of Al Brown Masonry (a commercial masonry contractor) and helped the company grow into one of the leading masonry contractors in the southwest United States. In 1989, Al Brown moved to Colorado and Bounds decided that the time was right to pursue his dream. After careful planning and crafting of a business plan (along with a policy and procedure manual) to operate a commercial masonry contracting firm, on March 21, 1989, Brazos Masonry Inc. (BMI) was born. Shortly thereafter, James Clay and Walter Dossett joined as partners in the business and BMI quickly became recognized by their competitors as a leader in the industry.

Bounds also had a strong conviction for giving back to his industry. He became the first subcontractor to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Central Texas AGC and subsequently was elected to the National AGC Board of Directors. In 1995, he was elected as the first President of the Central Texas Mason Contractors Association and was subsequently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Texas Masonry Council. Bounds has remained on the Board of the Texas Masonry Council and has served on many different committees.

Since 1997, Bounds has served on the Board of Directors of the Mason Contractors Association of America including serving as President. As President of the MCAA, he worked to lead the industry back to where it once stood (and that is the priority of every construction project that he is associated with).

Bounds energy, excitement and excellent leadership skills has taken Brazos Masonry Inc. to the top of the masonry industry.

Tim O’Toole is the Director of Marketing, Education, and Information Technology for the MCAA. He has a Masters in Business Administration from Webster University and has worked in the masonry industry since 2003.