The Metal Construction Association (MCA) has posthumously honored Miller-Clapperton CEO Ted Miller with the Larry A. Swaney Award at its Annual Meeting, January 27, 2013 in Rancho Mirage, CA. Ted passed away in October 2012. Members of his family and Miller-Clapperton staff were on hand to accept the award.
"This year we bestow this honor on someone who served almost 40 years in the metal construction industry and who supported MCA not only as a committee and council member but also chair of the Awards Committee. Ted was also heavily involved in the MCM Fabricators Council from its very beginning," said MCA Chair Todd E. Miller, during the presentation on January 27.
The Larry A. Swaney Award is named for one of MCA's founders and its first president who was committed to fostering growth and enhancing the betterment of metal construction. Since 2003, this award has been presented to a person who has worked unselfishly for the success of the association and the betterment of the metal construction industry.
During the awards presentation, Ted's longtime partner Dave Clapperton said:
"Ted had the uncanny ability to reduce the situation, be it simple or complex, down into a few words that summed up the critical issues. One of Ted's favorite lines was 'I am a man with simple tastes ... I am always pleased with the very best!' That is how Ted felt about the MCA: he was involved with the 'very best' of the metal construction industry; the very best minds; the most professional efforts; the highest integrity and with those that cared about our industry. He was thrilled to have played a significant role in developing the MCM Fabricators Council and to serve as its first Chairman, and to have been instrumental in developing the MCM Premium Certified Fabricator program. Being honored to serve as a member of the MCA Board and recently to be selected as the Chairman of the Awards Committee was an additional source of pride to Ted. Ted was so very proud to be a productive part of MCA and was even more proud of his relationships with its members and what those relationships brought to our industry. We at Miller-Clapperton were proud of Ted."
One nominator said, "Ted was an example of an astute and honest business man. His drive to promote metal has helped metal and, MCM especially, to achieve the level it enjoys today. The high standards in terms of performance but also ethics he has set for himself and for his company bring honor to us as his colleagues and as an industry."
Another of his nominators and competitors said:
"I knew him as a first class guy heading a first class business while promoting this industry and MCA."
According to Ted's son Zeke:
“Daddy was always at home with MCA. He loved the people, found the conversations important, and the progress made during the meetings gave him energy and excitement for our business and the industry.”
Among his achievements, Ted served as a member of the MCA board of directors since 2008 and was a key member of the MCM Fabricators Council.
The Metal Construction Association brings together a diverse industry for the purpose of expanding the use of metal in construction through marketing, research and technology and education. Companies involved in MCA gain tremendous benefit from association activities that focus on research, codes and standards, market development, and technical programs. MCA's market development efforts increase the use of metal materials in construction through the education of the building and design communities about the benefits of metal.
MCA's next meeting is the 2013 Semi-Annual Meeting, June 24-26, 2013 at The Umstead in Raleigh, North Carolina.
