ACPA Presents Distinguished Service & Recognition Awards

ROSEMONT, Ill. (December 20, 2015) – The American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) has named the 2016 recipients of its distinguished service and recognition awards.

The awards program was established in 1968, when the first honoree was James W. Johnson, Iowa Highway Commission Testing Lab, for the invention of the slip form paver. The program has grown into a time-honored tradition, cherished by the honorees, the industry, and of course, ACPA. The recipients of ACPA’s annual distinguished service awards are as follows:

Marlin J. Knutson Award for Technical Achievement

ACPA presented the 2016 Marlin J. Knutson Award for Technical Achievement to the William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, N.J.

This world-class facility has a broad mission to support the comprehensive needs of the aviation community, including state-of-the-art pavement design tools and technical standards to meet the demands of today’s new large aircraft.

The Technical Center’s comprehensive testing program and rigorous field instrumentation of pavements around the United States, are proving vital to the development of a new generation of airfield pavement design standards for high-quality, long-lasting airfield concrete pavements. This technical evolution will provide superior concrete pavements and will benefit airports, airlines, passengers and the transportation community for decades to come.

The Marlin J. Knutson Award for Technical Achievement is presented to an individual or group who has made significant contributions to advance the development and implementation of technical innovations and best practices in the design and construction of concrete pavements.

This award is named in honor of the second chief executive of the American Concrete Pavement Association. Marlin J. Knutson served in that role from 1985 to 1998, and during his tenure, was a staunch advocate for technical service and technology transfer. The Knutson Award for Technical Achievement has been awarded annually since 1998.
 

Lifetime Pavement Recognition Award
The 2016 Lifetime Pavement Recognition award commemorates the oldest concrete pavement in the State of Texas. Belknap Place in the Monte Vista Historic District of San Antonio, was placed in 1914, the pavement employed an innovative, patented process called “Granitoid,” a two-lift system with coarse aggregate in the lower lift and hard granite (indigenous trap rock) aggregate in the surface course.

Belknap Place was recognized by the Texas Historical Commission for its significance to the concrete industry, local residents and the city of San Antonio. At more than a century old, the pavement continues to carry car, truck and bus traffic, all with few signs of faulting or deterioration.

Accepting the award on behalf of the City of San Antonio was Al Siam Ferdous, Sr. Engineer with the Department of Transportation & Capital Improvements.

Also on hand for the recognition were Don Taubert, Capitol Aggregates (retired); Bill Ciggelakis, is principal-in-charge of Professional Service Industries Inc. (PSI), in Dallas; and Jan Prusinski, P.E., FACI, LEED AP, Executive Director of the Cement Council of Texas. Along with the late Bob Lopez, former executive director of the Cement Council of Texas, these professionals have researched, written, and presented the story of Belknap Place in numerous forums and venues throughout the years.

Awarded since 1994, this award is presented to the agency owner of an in-service concrete pavement that has demonstrated exceptional performance and service to its local community, state and users.

Outstanding Pavement Promotion Award
The 2016 Outstanding Pavement Promotion Award was presented to Patrick (Pat) Long, director of marketing and government affairs for the Indiana Chapter – ACPA. This award recognizes Long’s unique expertise in the promotion of concrete pavements. The award cited his experiences in regulatory and legislative issues, economic development policy, and public finance have benefited the industry in Indiana and throughout ACPA’s Chapter/State paving association network.

By combining his unique perspectives with his equally unique musical talents, Long is earned a positive reputation for making a positive and indelible impression upon owners, agencies, members and his
colleagues. The fruits of his efforts may be seen in the form of many project opportunities generated through his persistence and professionalism.

The ACPA Outstanding Pavement Promotion Award has been awarded selectively since 1998. It is presented to an individual or group who has made significant contributions through promotion efforts or programs to advance the awareness, specification and/or placement of concrete pavements. The recipient must be an employee of an ACPA member-company, ACPA national staff or staff of a local chapter/state association affiliated with ACPA.

For more information, visit ACPA.