1)     Coggeshall Award: Wayne Brinkmeyer (Britain Electric, Houston, Texas)

2)     Comstock Award: John R. Colson (Quanta Services, Houston, Texas)

3)     James H. McGraw Award: Daniel Palmer (Tri-City Electric, Davenport, Iowa)

4)     Association Executive Distinguished Service Award: Danal W. Neal (Western Ohio Chapter, NECA)

5)     Industry Partner Award: Robert M. Gasperow (CLRC)

The following NECA-member contractors will be inducted into the prestigious Academy of Electrical Contracting during NECA 2011 San Diego:

• Gregory Davis (Bob Davis Electric, Shreveport, Louisiana)
• Thomas Driscoll (E.S. Boulos Company, Westbrook, Maine)
• Charles Ewton (Lawson Electric, Chattanooga, Tennessee)
• John S. Frantz (Sidney Electrical, Sidney, Ohio)
• Bradley S. Giles (Giles Electric, South Daytona, Florida)
• Thomas Ispas (Daniel’s Electrical Construction, Fontana, California)
• Thomas G. Moore, Jr. (J P Rainey & Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
• Alex Owen (Brooks-Berry-Haynie & Associates, Mableton, Georgia)
• Daniel Palmer (Tri-City Electric, Davenport, Iowa)

Former soldier and acclaimed author Michael Durant offered the event’s keynote speech. He walked the audience step-by-step through the catastrophe that changed his life 17 years ago when the Blackhawk helicopter he was piloting crashed in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Durant shared the insight about how small missteps and miscalculations can lead to great tragedies. He compared the U.S. volunteer armed services to the training and preparation performed by NECA contractors.

“When facing a tough task, practice is all the more important,” Durant said. “Dangerous things should never become routine, but they must be practices to avoid that potentially fatal hesitation – something the workers in your industry can understand.

“There’s a window of opportunity in everything we do,” he concluded. “But we should never sacrifice our credibility to go through that window. It’s a precious asset. I know you see that in your work.”

2010 NECA Award Winners

• 2010 Coggeshall Award ~ Howard D. Hughes

• 2010 Comstock Award ~ John Negro

• 2010 McGraw Award ~ Jonathan “Russ” Borden

• 2010 Association Executive Distinguished Service Award ~ James Willson, Los Angeles County Chapter

• 2010 Wendt Award for Exemplary Leadership and Service to the Electrical Industry ~ Michael Mazzeo

But the most touching part of the morning was the video and personal tribute to outgoing NECA President Milner Irvin. Here are just a few of the things that his friends and colleagues said:

“Milner’s most important contributions have been in the area of labor relations. He’s led the association through a period of increasing and improving our communication with the IBEW.” – Bob Bruce

“He’s one of the most important presidents we’ve ever had. I’ve never had a thought that Milner hasn’t already had.” – Jerry Nixon

“He makes you feel important and valued in a room full of people.” – Brad Giles

Incoming President Rex Ferry presented Irvin with a plaque commemorating his service and announced that Irvin had been awarded an Honorary Membership in NECA, one of the highest tributes the association gives its leaders.

Sportscaster Bob Costas wrapped up the session with anecdotes and insights from his 30 years in sports journalism. He had a few thoughts on the Cubs quest for the playoffs: “Waiting for the Cubs to win is like leaving a porch light on for Jimmy Hoffa. It’s a nice gesture, but you feel like it’s probably futile.”

2008 NECA National Award Winners

Larry Cogburn — James H. McGraw Award
Greg Stewart – Coggeshall Award
Jerrold H. Nixon — Comstock Award
Glenn W. Kingsbury — Association Executive Distinguished Service Award
Robert J. Bruce — Wendt Award