NCMCA presents Upton Award

Words: Gary Joyner, Kenny Duncan, Billy WalkerFor only the tenth time in North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association (NCMCA) history, an associate NCMCA member has been recognized for exemplary service to the Association and to the masonry industry with the prestigious Eleanor Flowers Upton Award.

Kenny Duncan, who started with Santee Cement (now Holcim US, Inc.) in 1986 when hired by another Upton Award recipient, the late Billy Walker, was presented the award at the 2013 NCMCA Annual Convention Banquet Saturday evening April 13th in Myrtle Beach, SC.

NCMCA President Gary Joyner, a longtime friend of Duncan’s, who made the presentation, called Duncan a “masonry specialist and problem solver” who understands masonry mortar in a way that only a journeyman mason can. Duncan for years served as co-chair for the NCMCA Central Piedmont Chapter Danny Koonts Memorial Golf Tournament, and was an early supporter of the NCMCA Masonry Contractor Certification Program. He convinced Holcim of the program’s value to the industry, resulting in important Holcim financial “seed money” grants to get the North Carolina certification program underway.

Previous Upton Award recipients attending the banquet joined Duncan in celebrating the occasion.

The award is named in honor of NCMCA’s first Executive Director. Kenny Duncan and his wife Vickie live in Reidsville, NC. The North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association was chartered in April of 1974 and presently has 134 member firms in eight local chapters across the state.
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