May/June 2012

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Crop and flood insurance may be underwritten by Wells Fargo Insurance Services of West Virginia, Inc.’s affiliate, Rural Community Insurance Company. © 2012 Wells Fargo Insurance Services of West Virginia, Inc. All rights reserved. May / June 2012 Official Publication — CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF WEST VIRGINIA VOL. 75 NO. 3 For 75 years, "The Voice of Construction in the Mountain State" Officers CONTENTS *President Gene E. Thompson *Senior Vice President Cover Story: B. Lee Snyder *Vice President Phillip L. Weser WV Construction News: For 75 years, “The Voice of Construction Treasurer Daniel B. Flesher in the Mountain State”..............................................................................6 Secretary Dan Cooperrider *Immediate Past President Features: John H. Strickland CAWV goes to Washington: Highway bill passage uncertain................22 Directors C. R. Neighborgall IV CAWV members “Hard at Work”............................................................28 Scott Pierson Roger W. Thomas Golfers raise funds for scholarships.......................................................32 AGC National Directors Art King Charles R. Neighborgall III Construction briefs..............................................................................34 Robert O. Orders Robert O. Orders Jr. Advertisers ..........................................................................................46 Richard C. Smailes ARTBA National Directors James Ahern Leo A. Vecellio Jr. Chairman, Asphalt Pavement Association Willie Crane Chairman, Building Division Douglas P. Meeks Chairman, Highway/Heavy Division Nathaniel R. Orders On the cover Chairman, Utilities Division Michael Gianni *Chairman, Associate West Virginia Construction News is Division proudly celebrating its 75th Ross Johnson anniversary by highlighting the Vice Chairman, Associate Division association’s members who have been Gregory A. Burton in business for over 75 years. Some Past President Directors remain family held companies, as James Ahern David B. Alvarez many are in their third or fourth R. M. Brewer generation of ownership. Others have James E. Brown John S. Casto remained true to their original business Rodney W. Clay function while most have diversified. J. Steven Cvechko James W. Dailey II The common thread between them all Art King is, that despite some rough times, they Jack B. Lively James Mattingly have grown and prospered while Charles R. Neighborgall III building West Virginia, one day at a Robert O. Orders time. Robert O. Orders Jr. Richard C. Smailes Ronald B. Snyder Ronnie E. Spradling Winfield H. Strock Gary D. Young The Contractors Association of West Virginia is a nonprofit trade organization representing the building, highway, heavy and utility contracting industries in West Virginia. Its services include Staff establishment of a close working liaison with state and federal agencies; worthwhile educational and Executive Director informational programs; the regular dissemination of pertinent information to its members; strong Michael L. Clowser legislative and media relations; as well as all other activities deemed necessary and proper to promote Director of Member Services Patrick E. McDonald the general welfare of the construction industry. The CAWV is a certified chapter of the Associated Director of Administration General Contractors of America and the American Road and Transportation Builders Association. Wendy M. Long Communications Manager West Virginia Construction News, the official publication of the CAWV since 1937, is published Lindsay C. Stephens bimonthly. Advertising and editorial deadlines are on the first of the month preceding the month of Staff Assistant publication. Material may be reprinted only with the permission of the editor. Advertising and editorial Cheryl R. Clark offices are at 2114 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, WV 25311, telephone (304) 342-1166, Fax Executive Director Asphalt Pavement Association (304) 342-1074, Web Site www.cawv.org, Email: [email protected]. Yearly subscription rate to CAWV Patrick M. Parsons members, $7; non-members, $8; single copies, $1.50. Office Manager Asphalt Pavement Association MICHAEL L. CLOWSER LINDSAY C. STEPHENS Alice H. George EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR . *Executive Committee 91 West Virginia Construction News 1937 | 2012 For 75 years, "The Voice of Construction in the Mountain State" braham Lincoln once said, “The From the Works Progress Admin- people, the contractors and the projects best thing about the future is that istration and the Civilian Conservation that have shaped West Virginia. Ait comes one day at a time.” Corps that built the state’s dams and West Virginia has been built by parks in the 30s and 40s, to President The anniversary of the magazine offers contractors one day at a time. The Dwight Eisenhower’s Interstate Highway a chance to reflect on the CAWV’s Contracotrs Association of West System in the 60s and 70s, and the members, now and then, who have Virginia has watched roads progress, American Recovery and Reinvestment been instrumental in constructing West schools open and water service reach Act of 2009, WVCN has chronicled the Virginia. new communities. One mile, one brick, one section of pipe at a time, the Mountain state has grown at the hands of its contractors. West Virginia Construction News marks its 75th year in publication in 2012. The magazine, known as the “Voice of Construction in the Mountain State,” has had some elite company in the industry. As the state has weathered the effects of five wars and 13 presidents, contractors have continued to do what they do best: Build West Virginia. WVCN, and the CAWV, have been there every step of the way, working to educate and inform members on the trends and technologies shaping the construction industry in the state of West Virginia. West Virginia American Water began in Huntington in 1886. They have the distinction of being the oldest The magazine and the association have CAWV-member company. Over the past 125 years, West Virginia American Water has since grown into the largest water utility in the state. They now provide service to approximately 600,000 West Virginians witnessed the construction of the in 318 communities in 19 counties. Pictured above, the company builds a pump station in Ada, Mercer infrastructure that supports the state. County, circa 1907. 6 May / June 2012 WV AMERICAN WATER (1886) AWK), is the largest investor-owned of the original founder, and past CAWV West Virginia American Water operates water utility in the state. president, in 1985. Mary Beth Johnson as a subsidiary of American Water – took the reins as company president in formerly the American Water Works WV HEATING AND PLUMBING 2008. and Guarantee Company. West COMPANY (1888) Virginia American Water has supplied West Virginia Heating and Plumbing The Ruffner Hotel was the first high quality reliable water service for Company’s roots reach back to 1887 commercial job done by the company more than 125 years. The first water when John R. Shanklin began in 1888. They also completed system was built in Huntington in plumbing in Huntington. He moved the plumbing and heating on the State 1886, and remains a part of the current business to Charleston to work on the Captiol, Governor’s Mansion and system today. At that time, the Ruffner Hotel in 1888, joining with nearly all the area schools and company operated 8 miles of water Clark Howell and J.H. Dowman. The hospitals. They have also completed main and had the capability of company was originally known as many jails and schools throughout the pumping one million gallons per day. Howell, Shanklin and Dowman, but in state. 1895 changed to Capital City Supply Today, West Virginia American Water Company. In 1901, the company’s L.B. FOSTER (1902) serves approximately 600,000 West mine, mill and supply services were Lee B. Foster was only 20 years old Virginians in 318 communities in 19 separated from the contracting when he founded L.B. Foster, the counties. Their systems treat more business and West Virginia Heating company that bears his name. than 50 million gallons of water each and Plumbing Company was Financed in 1902 with a small $2500 day and send it through 3,500 miles of organized. John R. Shanklin and his loan from his father, Foster began water main (end-to-end that would half-brother, W.G. Barrar, ran the filling a need he recognized while stretch from Miami, Florida, to Juneau, company until Shanklin’s death in growing up around his father’s oil Alaska) 24 hours a day, 365 days a 1933. At that time,

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