Stone, Sand and Gravel REVIEW - May/June 2018 - 22
David Zatezalo, MSHA Administrator. miles east of downtown Houston along the bank of the Buffalo Bayou and upstream from the Houston Ship Channel. The aggregates distribution yard has been providing construction materials to the Houston area for more than 25 years. Materials are delivered to the Navigation Yard by train from the CEMEX Balcones Quarry, located in New Braunfels, Texas, about 175 miles west of Houston. The Houston area is a key market for crushed and washed limestone. CEMEX also manufacturers ready-mix concrete at the site and operates a barge loading facility for transporting construction aggregates. The facility has two wet batch and two dry batch ready mix concrete operations on site. 1,200-1,500 tons per hour are unloaded. Recognizing the Best of the Industry NSSGA proudly recognized two operations for outstanding community relations programs. FEC Quarry, a CEMEX operation in Miami, Fla., and Stringtown Quarry, a LafargeHolcim operation in Stringtown, Okla., each received a Platinum Award of Excellence. FEC Quarry also earned NSSGA's Two Stars of Excellence award. The association is proud to bestow a special honor for operations that receive two Gold Awards for either Community Relations or Environmental Excellence within a five-year period. "Quarries provide good-paying jobs in addition to producing the materials used to build local roads, schools, hospitals and more. A good community relations program is key to any 22 STONE, SAND & GRAVEL REVIEW, May/June 2018 operation anywhere in the country because it educates our neighbors about the value of our operations," said Michael W. Johnson, NSSGA president and CEO. "The people at FEC and Stringtown Quarries exemplify what it means to not just work in a community, but to be a part of that community." Honoring a Lifetime in Quarries The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association's highest individual recognition, the Barry K. Wendt Memorial Commitment Award, was posthumously awarded to John Wall of New Jersey. The area manager at Braen Stone Industries, in Haledon, N.J., passed away in December 2017. Wall had over 42 years' experience managing and building the industries top production facilities. "He was first in 5 a.m., and the last to leave work. He was willing to work weekends or holidays, whatever it took," said Scott Braen, president and CEO of Braen Stone. "John was a coach who provided guidance, shared his experience and challenged you to be better. He believed in earning your stripes, working through all obstacles to accomplish a task and earning respect. His colleagues, vendors and employees adored him and emulated his personal integrity and professional work ethic." NSSGA established the Wendt award, proudly administered by the Manufacturers and Services Division, to recognize an individual