28
Texas Association of Builders
January/February 2015
Lonestar Newsmakers
The Hill Country Builders Association
(HCBA) is honoring founding board member
Roy Riley in his retirement year by naming
their Guadalupe River Division Scholarship
Program in his honor.
Roy Riley is General Manager of MG Building
Materials in Kerrville and has served on
the HCBA Board of Directors since it was
chartered in 1999. Riley is retiring after a 30
year career, with the last 12 dedicated to MG.
“Riley has brought so many community
focused events to the HCBA over the decades,
the scholarship focus is one that ensures the
Board of Directors continues giving back to
the community as Roy did throughout his
career,” explains HCBA Guadalupe River
Division President Eileen Parsons.
Funds for the local scholarship are raised
primarily through golf tournaments and
other HCBA events and have benefitted Hill
Country graduating seniors in their college
bound endeavors; however, the association
is shifting to more trade school based
support. “Supporting trade school program
helps to insure that the students have a place
to work when they get their certifications,
and it supports our industry directly in the
market where the programs originated,” said
Executive Director Jayne Mortensen.
Riley and his wife, Phyllis, have a retirement
of travel mapped out, with the Hill Country
remaining their home base. A friend to
many and mentor to an entire generation,
Riley’s absence will be felt, but never
forgotten, his sincere smile and spirit will
be in a scholarship recipient each year.
At the request of the Texas Association
of Builders and the Texas Builders
Foundation, Governor Rick Perry signed
a proclamation declaring October 2014
as “Careers in Construction Month” to
increase public awareness and appreciation
of construction craft professionals and
the entire construction workforce. Texas’
residential construction industry is facing
a shortage of skilled workers; over the next
five years 20 percent of skilled laborers in
the construction industry will retire. With
an estimated 1,300 people moving to Texas
every day, the need for quality, affordable
housing will continue to be in demand. A
worker shortage delays the cost of the project,
adding to the cost of the home, and pricing
thousands of households out of average-
priced homes in Texas.
House Bill 5, the comprehensive education
reform bill that was passed during the
last legislative session, gives high school
students a choice in their post-graduation
path, allowing them to prepare for college,
or choosing elective courses that prepare
them for employment immediately upon
graduation from high school by, for
example, earning construction industry or
trade certifications.
“By designating October 2014 as 'Careers
in Construction Month,' the Governor has
provided the association with an additional
tool in our efforts to educate the youth of
Texas on the construction industry as a
professional career path,” said Eddie Martin,
Past President of the Texas Association of
Builders and Chairman of the Texas Builders
Foundation. “I want to thank Governor
Perry for helping us to raise awareness
of the construction industry as a worthy
career option.”
Hill Country Builders Association
Names Scholarship After Roy Riley
Careers In Construction Month
