2016 Douglas Drye Award

Words: Lynn NashFor the second year in a row Fred T. Foard High School in Catawba County received the 2016 Doug Drye Award for best overall performance in the masonry competitions at the 2016 Greensboro NC SkillUSA State Conference in
April.

The Overall Performance Award is named in honor of Douglas Drye who retired from Mount Pleasant High in 2008 and still holds the record for the most high school national masonry champions of all the masonry instructors in the country. The award is presented by NCMCA and The Southeast Concrete Masonry Association.

Fred T. Foard High School is a three-time Drye Award winner having also earned the recognition in 2012 and 2015.

In the photo, NCMCA President Bob Gates, right of plaque, presents the award to instructor Rick Greene, left of plaque, joined by the seniors in Greene’s masonry class, industry officials and local masonry contractors: standing right to left, C.E.Moser and Wayne Starr, officers of the Western Carolina NCMCA chapter; Byard Stevens, President of the Southeast Concrete Masonry Association; masonry contractor Neil Dellinger; and President Gates.
About: Featured
The Evolution and Innovation of Concrete Unit Pavers
May 2025

When concrete unit pavers were first produced in Europe after the second World War, they were used as a replacement for clay brick pavers due to a lack of raw materials needed to produce that product. The primary emphasis was function with little to no co

The Evolution and Innovation of Concrete Unit Pavers
May 2025

When concrete unit pavers were first produced in Europe after the second World War, they were used as a replacement for clay brick pavers due to a lack of raw materials needed to produce that product. The primary emphasis was function with little to no co

Masonry Mortar: The Right Type for the Job
May 2025

When it comes to masonry construction, mortar is much more than “glue” that holds everything together — it’s a critical component of wall performance, longevity, and aesthetics. It can “make it or break it”. Whether you’re laying a foundation CMU wall or

MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Episode 20 Recap: Mark Kemp, Superior Masonry
May 2025

On this episode of the MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Mark Kemp joins the set to talk about his esteemed career in masonry, how his passion stayed strong throughout the years, and how retirement has been treating him.