Red Brookshire ?ĮPasses Away

Words: Dan Kamys

Red Brookshire ?ĮPasses Away

Cloyd Devon Brookshire passed away peacefully on Oct. 13. Red was born in Poplar Springs, N.C., on May 16, 1924, and pursued a career in the masonry industry for over 50 years. Red served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and became a bricklayer soon after the war. He and his brother, Coyle Winfred, started a masonry construction company in 1955 in Charlotte. In 1980 he went into business with his two sons. In the 1980s and until his retirement in 1993, he managed two construction companies, in North Carolina and in Florida. Red was a family man, a man of Christian faith, and an avid sports fan. He was a generous and eternally optimistic soul and will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved him.

Elevating Masonry: Old Habits, Familiar Tools, and the Real Reason Masonry Contractors Aren’t Making the Switch
May 2026

Ask a masonry contractor how they run their jobsite, and the answer probably sounds familiar: paper logs, a flurry of texts, maybe a shared email thread. It works until it doesn’t. And yet, even as purpose-built field management software has become more a

The Cornerstone of Craftsmanship: Nurturing Masonry Talent Through Competition
May 2026

In the evolving landscape of skilled trades, masonry stands as a testament to enduring craftsmanship and dedication. Yet, the question of how to cultivate and showcase this vital expertise remains paramount. While the bright lights of national competition

There’s the Typical Way to Brace a Wall. And Then There’s a Better Way.
May 2026

Wall bracing is one of the most important safety considerations on any masonry jobsite, yet it is often treated as a task that happens after the wall is built. Crews return, equipment is brought in, and time is set aside to secure walls that have already

Remembering Harry McGraw
May 2026

The masonry industry has lost one of its great teachers and craftsmen with the passing of Harry Edward McGraw, who died April 26, 2026, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 93.