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Steve Hudson

Alabama Road Builders Hall of Fame Inducts New Members
April 14, 2008

There’s nothing like being recognized by your peers – and recently, the Alabama Road Builders Hall of Fame did just that when it inducted six individuals (David Abramson, Samuel Edward Hodges, Michael B. McCartney, G. Mack Roberts, Isaac J. (Jud) Scott, Sr., and C. P. (Pat) Wilson, Sr.) and one company (Vulcan Materials) as new Hall of Fame members.

The Hall of Fame was created by the Alabama Road Builders Association Board of Directors “to honor, preserve and perpetuate the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of individuals and companies that have brought significant recognition to the State of Alabama in the field of transportation construction.”

“The transportation construction industry is delighted about the continued support of an Alabama Road Builders Hall of Fame,” said Hall of Fame Board Chairman M. B. McCartney of Gadsden’s McCartney Construction, adding, “Those honored will serve as symbols inspiring others to pursue rewarding and challenging careers in all transportation construction fields.”

The bios of these new Hall of Fame inductees make for fascinating reading; look for detailed accounts in an upcoming issue of Dixie Contractor. Meanwhile, here are a few highlights.

·             The late C.P. “Pat” Wilson Sr., born in Equality, Ala., in 1923 and raised on the family farm, supervised the repair and refitting of B-29 bombers during World War II; later, his company Wilson Brothers Construction constructed the longest Farm to Market roadway in the program’s history (18 miles from Childersburg to Talladega).

·             David Abramson, president of Alabama Bridge Builders, worked “tirelessly” on relationships in the industry and made it a point to get to know and to have a working relationship with every Highway/Transportation Director during his career. He also made it a point to develop an excellent reputation with elected officials. Especially during the last gas tax that was passed to help with the road program in the state, his efforts at the State House were very influential in seeing that the package was passed.

·             The late Samuel Edward Hodges, who with half brother Pitts Douglas formed Hodges & Company in 1947, was instrumental in organizing the Alabama Asphalt Pavement Association, an association formed to promote the product in the highway construction industry. In 1959, at the organizational meeting, Hodges & Company was one of 17 firms to become charter members. He was also elected one of the original eight directors. In 1970, he became the Alabama Asphalt Pavement Association’s 12th president.

·             Michael Bailey McCartney first worked with the Florida State Road Department as an engineer in training and then as a project engineer, then went to work for Cone Brothers Contracting Company of Tampa, Fla., as superintendent in charge of asphalt plants and all asphalt construction.  In 1962, he joined McCartney Construction Co. and Calhoun Asphalt Co. During the 1960s the two companies were growing and participated heavily in the Interstate program – including paving I-59 as it passed from Birmingham to Chattanooga – and the building of Neely Henry Dam.  Today McCartney serves as president to both companies, and he played a significant role in bringing the National Center for Asphalt Technology to Auburn and has been a member of the center’s board since its inception.

·             G. Mack Roberts began his career in the transportation industry in 1956 with the Alabama Highway Department. He served in many capacities including project engineer, assistant division engineer, division engineer, state roadway and bridge maintenance engineer; by the end of his career he had served as highway director under several governors and also enjoyed several stints on the industry side.

·             The late Isaac J. (Jud) Scott, Sr. of Scott Bridge Company of Opelika, Ala., worked in the construction business for 55 years until his retirement in 1975. Most of his years were spent building bridges. His company specialized in bridges with piers in deep water, requiring “know how” in floating equipment, cofferdams and mass concrete pours underwater, and numerous major projects in Alabama, Georgia and Florida stand as monuments to this dedicated builder.

·             On the “company” inductee side, Birmingham-based Vulcan Materials Company’s construction aggregates business dates back to 1909, the year in which Vulcan’s predecessor company, Birmingham Slag Company, was formed. Today, Vulcan remains the largest producer of construction aggregates in the United States – a status it’s held since the early 1960s.

Posted by Steve Hudson on April 14, 2008 | Comments (0)