Masonry Magazine March 1980 Page. 13
Mason Contractor News
BIA Appoints Gibson Gov't Relations Director
The Brick Institute of America has appointed Thomas F. Gibson as its new director of government relations. He replaces Robert L. Hunt, who accepted a similar position in another field.
Gibson previously was a legislative specialist at the law firm of Arnold & Porter, Washington, D.C., and was legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. Dewey F. Bartlett until his retirement in 1977.
Oberg Elected President of Colorado MCA
Jack Oberg, a principal in the Denver mason contracting firm Oberg Construction, Inc. has been elected 1980 president of the Colorado Mason Contractors Association. Oberg's father, Walt Oberg, is well-remembered by the old-timers in Denver as a mason contractor between the years 1923-61.
Jack Oberg has been active in the Colorado MCA as a trustee and vice president as well as serving as a trustee of the Masonry Advancement Program and the Brickmason's Pension, Health & Welfare, and Apprenticeship Funds.
Shopping Mall Architect Victor Gruen Dead
Victor Gruen, 76, the master architect credited with conceiving the first modern pedestrian-mall shopping center, died February 14, 1980, in Vienna, Austria, his native city.
Mr. Gruen developed the mall concept in 1943, and it was used from 1952 to 1954 in the Northland Center near Detroit, which became a model for thousands of shopping centers in the nation.
Mr. Gruen learned his art at a basic level as a brickmason while attending Vienna's Master School of Architecture of the Academy of Fine Arts. By 1951 he had established the architectural firm of Victor Gruen Associates with headquarters in Los Angeles. He returned to live in Vienna upon his retirement in 1968.
Ray Sell of Koehring Retires After 41 Years
Ray Sell, an executive with Koehring Compaction & General Equipment Group, Port Washington, Wis., retired February 15, 1980, after 41 years of service with the firm, a major manufacturer of rough terrain forklift equipment.
At the time of his retirement, Sell was material handling consultant for Koehring. His previous positions with the company included marketing manager of the former PCM Division and product manager of the Construction Equipment Division. A native of Philadelphia, he joined Koehring in 1939.
Sell indicated that his retirement plans were uncertain, but that he and his wife, Genevieve, would continue to reside in Grafton, Wis., a short distance from Port Washington. His friends may contact him at 1124 Sunset Court, Grafton, WI 53024.
Masonry Institute of Oregon Elects Officers
The Masonry Institute of Oregon elected officers for the 1980-82 term at its annual meeting in Portland. Elected were: president, Ken Storey (seated in picture), GKW Masonry, Vancouver; vice president, Dick Sears (right), Schouten-Sears Masonry, Portland, and Lenny Pardue, L. C. Pardue, Inc., Portland.
Metro Mason Contractors of Toronto Elect Officers
The Metro Mason Contractors Association, Toronto, Ont., Canada, recently elected officers for 1980 at the group's annual meeting and dinner. Elected were (bottom, from left) vice president, James Riach, Clifford Masonry Ltd.; president, Ernesto Tobia, Key Masonry Ltd., and secretary-treasurer, Peter L. Martini, Twin Masonry Ltd. (Top, from left) W. Neil Fraser, executive director, and Tom Filipowich, Filipowich Masonry Contractors Ltd. and Tiberio Mascarin, Deluca & Mascarin Masonry Contractors Ltd., directors.