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6 Pit & Quarry Hall of Fame inductees honored at reception

The Pit & Quarry Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held March 3 in Las Vegas immediately following NSSGA's Chairman's Reception. The black-tie event began with a cocktail reception, which was followed by dinner and the award ceremony. Six industry leaders were inducted into Pit & Quarry's second Hall of Fame event. Publisher Rob Fulop started off the festivities as he welcomed guests, many of whom had close personal and professional ties to the honorees. Editor-in-Chief Darren Constantino introduced each inductees as well as a short video that illustrated their illustrious careers. Astec Industries Inc.’s J. Don Brock was on hand to graciously accept his award. Bernie Grove, known for his work with the National Stone Association, was unable to attend due to travel delays caused by snowstorms on the East Coast. Accepting on his behalf was Kim Snyder, whom Grove mentored. Collecting the award for Chuck Lien was son Pete Lien, president of Pete Lien & Sons, who related a humorous his speech his father gave in the past… Keep Reading

Ralph Rogers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzZ9s0XNImA&w=640&h=385 Ralph Rogers laid the groundwork for what is now one of the largest privately owned aggregate companies in the United States. Rogers and his partners were among the first road builders involved in President Dwight Eisenhower’s Interstate Highway System, supplying stone and building major interstate sections in Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. He created and maintained a corporate culture where the “man in the pit” was just as important as the executives or elected officials. Pit & Quarry established an industry Hall of Fame in 2012 to pay tribute to the pioneers of the past and present-day industry leaders. A neutral board comprised of various industry segments reviews all nominations and determines which individuals earn induction to the Hall of Fame. Keep Reading

Chuck Lien

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXjlQPKf-IA&w=640&h=385 Chuck Lien established Pete Lien & Sons in 1944 with his father, Pete, and brother, Bruce. The company grew from one of three employees and one location to a company with nearly 400 employees across 30 sites in three different states. Lien reinvested the company’s earnings into reserves in South Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado and grew Pete Lien & Sons into a $100 million company. He served in World War II and the Korean War. Pit & Quarry established an industry Hall of Fame in 2012 to pay tribute to the pioneers of the past and present-day industry leaders. A neutral board comprised of various industry segments reviews all nominations and determines which individuals earn induction to the Hall of Fame. Keep Reading

Howard Hall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6AA3cgJ7Us&w=640&h=385 Howard Hall enters the hall of fame posthumously. After serving in France during World War I, Hall started his business career in 1919 by buying Iowa Steel & Iron Works in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Four years later, he and associates formed Iowa Manufacturing Co. to manufacture rock-crushing equipment. The company quickly became known nationally and internationally for crushing and screening equipment sold under the brand name Cedarapids. Pit & Quarry established an industry Hall of Fame in 2012 to pay tribute to the pioneers of the past and present-day industry leaders. A neutral board comprised of various industry segments reviews all nominations and determines which individuals earn induction to the Hall of Fame. Keep Reading

Bernie Grove

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SjKkwDgG_A&w=640&h=385 Bernie Grove grew up in the industry, as his family owned the M.J. Grove Lime Co. in Frederick, Md. As chairman of the National Stone Association, Grove was an advocate for community outreach. He formed the association’s Public Affairs Committee to focus on the issue. As a member of the National Stone Association’s Executive Committee, he was a driving force in the formation of the Environmental, Safety and Health Committee. In addition, Grove built a career for himself as the vice president of aggregates operations at Genstar. Pit & Quarry established an industry Hall of Fame in 2012 to pay tribute to the pioneers of the past and present-day industry leaders. A neutral board comprised of various industry segments reviews all nominations and determines which individuals earn induction to the Hall of Fame. Keep Reading

J. Don Brock

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBGGsQvhw9Y&w=640&h=385 Brock founded his company in 1972. Under his leadership, Astec grew into a family of 17 companies – 13 of which are located in the United States. Astec also has companies in Australia, Brazil, Canada and South Africa. Brock presently has about 100 U.S. and foreign patents on construction machinery and drying equipment to his name. Pit & Quarry established an industry Hall of Fame in 2012 to pay tribute to the pioneers of the past and present-day industry leaders. A neutral board comprised of various industry segments reviews all nominations and determines which individuals earn induction to the Hall of Fame. Keep Reading

Eagle Crusher: 3242 Jaw Crusher

The Eagle 3242 Jaw Crusher is tough, simple and reliable. Its high production pitman design is built on the legendary Austin-Western design — the entire pitman assembly easily lifts out. Portable, skid-mount and stationary models are available. EagleCrusher.com Photo: Eagle Crusher Keep Reading

Estimates can be taxing

Consider these tips for reducing the frustration of the estimated taxes process. It should come as no surprise that Uncle Sam wants taxes paid in full during the course of the year. Avoiding the penalties associated with guessing wrong about estimated tax payments is easy: Anyone, including any sand or gravel business, large or small, can usually avoid penalties by basing its estimated tax payments on its previous year’s tax bill. But if the coming year turns out to be a bad one financially, basing estimated tax payments on the previous year can mean the government, not the business, gets to use those funds — interest-free — for as long as a year. If the coming year turns out to be a good one, basing estimated tax payments on the previous year may mean no penalty, but a whopping tax bill when the tax return is filed — along with the first estimated tax installment for the upcoming tax year. Estimating the income and the tax bill of any aggregates… Keep Reading

Super-size it

Taking a look at the big, bigger and biggest screening operations at an enormous Great Lakes quarry. The mega 12-story-tall screen house at the Rogers City Quarry remains a landmark engineering feat amidst what is said to be one of the world’s largest open-pit limestone quarries. The structural steel-and-brick-faced building shields a massive circuit from the region’s often-blustery freezing climate. Monolithic in scope, a total of 64 screens process the material feed, sizing and separating from floor to floor. A variety of products are sent to stockpiles along the descent, with the finest material landing on the first floor as sand. “The U.S. Steel group assembled this screening building in the 1930s to supply aggregate to its mills over the next several decades. They had a great deal of foresight as to its layout and overall efficiency,” says Ray LeClair, area manager for the Great Lakes division of Carmeuse Lime & Stone, which bought the quarry in 2008. Located in Rogers City, Mich., the quarry mines about 3,000 acres of… Keep Reading

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