Jim O'Connor is literally a construction project built from the ground floor up.
His father, "James P. O'Connor Sr." worked at Beck Brick for almost 40 years and brought a young Jim into the industry as a teenager. He worked weekends there in the brickyard and immediately developed a great rapport with customers and the staff.
In the wise words of Ben Hogan. "The most important shot in golf is the next one." This philosophy has been seen in every aspect of Jim's professional career as well. His college summers were spent laboring for some of the most respected union contractors in the industry. Jim's passion for Masonry continued when he was offered and accepted the position of Executive Secretary of the Mason Contractors Association of Greater Chicago over thirty years ago. His primary goal was then and is still to this day, to strengthen the relationship between union administrators, union contractors, and bricklayers toward the common end goal of creating a solid and well-built finished project.
Anyone that knows him, knows that he loves a challenge and rises to the occasion when the opportunity presents itself. His drive, his determination, and his perseverance, are all modestly hidden in a guys-guy exterior, beneath his jokes, his sports stories, and his openly friendly personality. He is a person that always makes time to do the right thing.
His current successes and affiliations include:
International Masonry Institute - Board Member (1st noncontractor)
International Council of Employers to B.A.C. (1st non-contractor)
Trustee of the Illinois Masonry Institute Promotion Trust/Masonry Advisory Council
Illinois Structural Masonry Coalition -Founding Member & Board Member
MARBA - Committees Negotiations with the Bricklayers, Laborers, and Operating Engineer
Lead Negotiator for Marble Setters and Marble Finishers for Chicago Marble and Granite Dealers Assoc
On Bricklayer's LMCC Board
Jim's tireless energy has renewed the industry through his fundraising efforts allowing for these promotional dollars to be set aside to create general awareness for masonry and expand the industries efforts through education (architects, engineers, contractors, building officials, etc.), free technical support, conversion of projects to masonry, promotion, and ordinance work. He's a pretty decent golfer if the wind direction is good on that particular day. In fact, he is one of the few people that doesn't waste an opportunity to subliminally carry out his masonry work message on the golf course. I'm proud to not only call him my friend but to have had the honor to work alongside him for the past 21 years.
Jim’s father, "James P. O'Connor Sr." worked at Beck Brick for almost 40 years and brought a young Jim into the industry as a teenager. He worked weekends there in the brickyard and immediately developed a great rapport with customers and the staff. Jim's passion for Masonry continued when he was offered and accepted the position of Executive Secretary of the Mason Contractors Association of Greater Chicago.
Jim has been a tireless supporter and advocate for masonry. His drive, his determination, and his perseverance, are all modestly hidden in a guys-guy exterior, beneath his jokes, his sports stories, and his openly friendly personality. He is a person that always makes time to do the right thing and the masonry industry is better off as a result of having him as an advocate.
Masonry Hall of Fame 2021 Presented By: SOLA