Masonry Magazine April 1984 Page. 13
Mason Contractor News
Catani Named President of Dur-O-Wal, Inc.
Mario J. Catani has been promoted to president and general manager of Dur-O-Wal, Inc., Northbrook, Ill., manufacturer/distributor of masonry reinforcing systems.
Before joining Dur-O-Wal as vice president in 1982, Catani was director of the Buildings Division of Portland Cement Association. He holds a master's degree in civil engineering from Newark (N.J.) College of Engineering and is chairman of the joint ASCE/ACI Committee 530 on Masonry Structures.
People & Events
J. Gregg Borchelt, executive director, Masonry Institute of Houston-Galveston, has been elected chairman of ASTM Committee C-15 on Manufactured Masonry Units. Bay State Abrasives Division, Dresser Industries, Inc., Torrance, Calif., has appointed Charles G. Van Wiggeren general manager of Felker Operations.
A. Epstein & Sons International, Inc. has named John T. Peterson to fill the new post of director of government programs with headquarters in Springfield, Va.
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SCHOLARSHIPS were recently presented on behalf of the Unionized Masonry Industry Scholarship Awards program sponsored by the Masonry Institute of New York City & Long Island. The awards are given for a full four years of study in architecture and/or structural engineering at a college or university. Pictured at the awards luncheon are (from left): Frank Alessi, business agent, Local 41, BAC/NY: Donald A. Staab, executive director, Masonry Institute: Arthur Del Savio, parent; scholarship recipients Arthur Del Savio Jr. and Nancy Scala: Mrs. Scala, parent: John Loretoni, district council chairman, BAC/NY, and Anthony Zotollo, MCAA regional vice president and chairman, Board of Trustees, Masonry Institute.
New Housing Up 57%
Construction of new housing units jumped 57% in 1983 from the year before, according to McGraw-Hill's F. W. Dodge Division.
New housing starts for the year totaled 1.7 million units, against 1.0 million in 1982. Dallas-Ft. Worth led the nation in new housing units, followed by Houston and Phoenix.
'83 Construction Work Reaches Record Level
Despite a 7% setback in contracting for new construction in December, the total of newly started construction in 1983 reached a record $192.8 billion, according to McGraw-Hill's F. W. Dodge Division.
George A. Christie, chief economist for Dodge, credits the turnaround to three factors: 1) the decline of mortgage rates, from 17% in 1982 to 13% last year: 2) the huge gain in home-building, and 3) the "negligible" inflation in 1983.
National Gypsum Posts Record Sales, Earnings
National Gypsum Co., Dallas, Texas, reported its net earnings for the fourth quarter of 1983 rose 186% to a record high of $18.5 million. Sales increased 23% to a record $309 million. Sales for the year increased 22% to $1.1 billion.
Staff Change at MCAA
Charmain Kunz who has served in the MCAA Executive Office as administrative assistant for more than six years, has left to join the ranks of motherhood. All of us at MCAA join in wishing her and her family the best in the years to come.
Stepping in to fill Charmain's spot is Dawn Kay, whom many MCAA members had the opportunity to meet in New Orleans during our recent Conference there.
Dawn joined MCAA in April, 1982 on a part-time basis and became a full-time staff member the following November. She and her husband, Rick, live in nearby Aurora, Ill.
Cincinnati Unit Masonry Association Meets
"Fire Test, Design and Performance of Masonry Walls" was the main topic discussed at the Spring Masonry Meeting of the Unit Masonry Association of Greater Cincinnati on April 11 at the Hartwell Country Club.
Joel Irvine, engineer/district manager of the Solite Corporation, was the guest speaker.
MASONRY-MARCH/APRIL, 1984 13