David Robert Buckland won a silver medal in the 2005 National Craft Championships and Henry Kelly was presented with the Contractor of the Year Award.

Richard L. Horton, president of Coronado Builders (left) and Wallis H. Bryce, CEO of Coronado Builders with the 2004 Quality in Construction Award, which the firm recently received from AIA Fort Worth.

North Texan One of ABC National Craft Champions

The Associated Builders and Contractors recently announced the top finishers in its 2005 National Craft Championships competition, held at the association's annual national convention in Orlando, Fla.

ABC North Texas member David Robert Buckland, of Dyna Ten Service, finished with a silver medal in the HVAC competition.

More than 125 craft professionals competed in 10 different craft areas during this year's contest. Craft Championship competitors, who qualified or won previous competitions at the regional level, first took an intense, three-hour written exam and then competed in side-by-side, "hands-on" building projects.

"The Craft Championships is always one of the highlights of ABC's National Convention," said 2005 ABC National Chair Gary Roden, executive vice president and chief operating officer of AGUIRREcorporation, Dallas. "These craft competitors represent the 'best-of-the-best' in the construction industry. Each year, we are honored to provide these craft professionals the opportunity to demonstrate their high-quality workmanship, technical knowledge and safe work practices."

The participants proved their expertise in carpentry, electrical, fire sprinkler, HVAC, masonry, millwright, pipefitting, plumbing, sheet metal and welding. A portion of each participant's score was based on good safety practices and procedures.

ABC Names Houston Contractor Henry Kelly Contractor of the Year

The Associated Builders and Contractors recently presented its Contractor of the Year award to Henry Kelly, president and chief operating officer of Austin Industrial Inc. of Houston, during the association's 2005 National Convention in Orlando, Fla. The ABC presents this award each year to an ABC member who has demonstrated significant accomplishment for ABC, the merit shop and the construction industry.

"Henry Kelly embodies merit shop construction leadership, and it is a pleasure for ABC to honor him as its Contractor of the Year," said Kirk Pickerel, ABC president and CEO.

In addition to his service as ABC's 2001 national chairman, Kelly was a member of ABC's executive committee from 1997 through 2002 and served as ABC's Region 3 vice-chairman from 1997 through 1999. Kelly was also a long-time member of ABC's national industrial council. Kelly served on national committees including the association's chapter standards committee, chapter improvement task force, image task force and planning and futuring committee. At the chapter level, Kelly was president of the Greater Houston chapter in both 1996 and 1993. Kelly also served on numerous chapter committees.

For more than 35 years, Kelly has advanced through a series of positions at Austin Industrial. Today, Kelly serves as the president and chief operating officer of the regional contractor that provides construction and maintenance services to the chemical, petrochemical, refining, power and manufacturing industries along the Texas and Louisiana coastline, and in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Austin Industrial is one of three operating companies of Dallas-based Austin Industries. As president and chief operating officer of Austin Industrial, Kelly also serves as a vice president of its parent firm, Austin Industries.

Coronado Receives AIA Fort Worth Quality in Construction Award

Coronado Builders Ltd., with offices in Fort Worth and Dallas, recently received the American Institute of Architects Fort Worth 2004 Quality in Construction Award. The AIA established the annual award to recognize and honor a person or group for its persistence in the search for quality in work- not only competent execution but work that comes from using excellent judgment, dexterity and care in the process.

Richard L. Horton, Coronado's president, and Wallis H. Bryce, Coronado's CEO, accepted the award at a recent meeting of AIA Fort Worth to recognize significant contributions made in 2004. Ed Werth, AIA, chaired the Honors and Awards Committee.

San Antonio ASA Excellence in Construction Awards

The San Antonio Chapter of the American Subcontractors Association recently held its Excellence In Construction Awards Banquet.

The 2004 awards went to the following individuals and firms:

Pioneer Award: Ace Tinch, Harding, Conley, Drawert, Tinch Insurance; President's Award: George Major Jr., Holes of San Antonio; General Contractor of the Year: Bartlett Cocke General Contractors; Project of the Year Over $10 Million: Community Bible Church, CF Jordan LP; Project of the Year Between $5-$10 Million: Brackenridge High School Music Facility, Joeris General Contractors Ltd.; and Methodist Healthcare Ministries, The Keller-Martin Organization; Project of the Year Under $5 Million: South Texas Center, Koontz McCombs Construction Ltd.; Project Manager of the Year: Darrell White, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors; Project Supervisor of the Year: John Devaney, SpawGlass.