PRESQUE ISLE – Aroostook County is now home to the Northern Maine Construction Hall of Fame, as faculty in the construction trade programs at Northern Maine Community College held an official opening and inducted the first five honorees at an evening ceremony Oct. 16 in the Mailman Trades Building at NMCC.
The Hall of Fame reception was part of the College’s celebration of National Careers in Construction Week, which this year fell Oct. 15-19. Gov. John E. Baldacci and his counterparts in more than 30 states across the nation signed official proclamations designating the week as one to raise public awareness of the work of our nation’s craft professionals and to emphasize the role construction industry partners play in helping youths and adults achieve career success.
The Northern Maine Construction Hall of Fame is located inside the main entrance of the Mailman Trades Building in the long corridor that students, faculty, staff and visitors use to enter and exit the building daily.
Trade and Technical Occupations Department Chair Brian McDougal and the five construction trade program instructors served as the selection panel for the inaugural inductees. They decided to honor one individual representing each of the related trades for this first year. In years to come, plans are to induct between one and three outstanding construction workers to the Hall of Fame in a ceremony held during Careers in Construction Week.
The first five inductees represent prominent construction business owners and industry leaders, as well as alumni and retired faculty of NMCC and its forerunner, Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institute.
“These individuals have all added significantly to the construction trade,” said McDougal in his remarks during the ceremony. “I could not think of five folks who would be any more deserving.”
“I have worked with County Electric on several municipal projects, and I have found the workers to be accommodating, professional and eager to get the job done right … that work ethic is no doubt inspired by their leader,” said Chuck Kelley, NMCC’s electrical construction and maintenance instructor, as he introduced the first inductee, Stanley “Bub” Anderson of New Sweden.
Anderson, a 1974 graduate of NMVTI, is the co-founder and an owner of County Electric, an Aroostook County-based electrical contracting firm. He has been active on the electrical program’s advisory committee for two decades and is also involved in various civic and community activities.
Hollis Burgess, a former long-time instructor in the residential construction program at NMCC, was honored posthumously. Burgess is credited as the driving force behind the Sinawik Project, which engages students and faculty in the construction programs in the building of a home each year.
“He always pushed you to do better,” said Guy Jackson, the College’s current residential construction instructor. “He was a mentor and like a father to me and to a lot of students. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”
A native of Vinalhaven, Burgess passed away in January of 2001.
Tim Doak of Caribou, co-owner and president of B.R. Smith Associates, Inc. Surveying and Engineering, was the third inductee. He is a graduate of both the College’s automotive technology and drafting programs.
“Tim exemplifies the qualities you would want to recognize as a role model,” said Roger Crouse, NMCC’s computer-aided drafting instructor. “He is actively involved in his community, volunteering his time and energy for community service. He is also a lifelong learner, currently taking classes at the University of Maine in surveying engineering, and maintains several professional affiliations. He recently became a professional engineer, a huge accomplishment.”
Doak’s firm has hired a number of NMCC graduates, and he is an active member of the College’s computer-aided drafting technology advisory committee.
“He has established a legacy of craftsmanship,” said NMCC plumbing and heating instructor Al St. Peter upon introducing inductee Rick St. Peter of Caribou. “The students he worked with here at the College were well served, and he did a great job setting up the plumbing and heating lab for the first time in this building. This program was in great shape when I came, thanks to his work.”
Rick St. Peter is the owner of Patrick St. Peter and Sons. He is both a 1975 NMVTI graduate of the plumbing and heating program, as well as a former instructor.
The final inductee of 2007 was Richard “Dick” West of Holden. West was first a sheet metal (present-day welding and metal fabrication) instructor and then department chairperson for the trade and technical occupations department at NMCC.
“Dick was a teacher, a referee, an administrator, and a priest,” quipped Dennis Albert, NMCC’s welding and metal fabrication instructor. “He always had a calmness about him and was always looking out for the students when he was here.”
West retired in 2001.
Photos of each inductee were unveiled following their individual recognition. Approximately 75 family members, friends, College employees, and members of the College’s building construction trades program advisory committees were on hand to celebrate the occasion.
Photo courtesy of Northern Maine Community College
THE FIRST FIVE INDUCTEES to the Northern Maine Construction Hall of Fame were honored during an Oct. 16 ceremony at Northern Maine Community College. Being honored were, from left: Stanley “Bub” Anderson of New Sweden, Hollis Burgess (presented posthumously to his daughter, Susan Burgess), Tim Doak of Caribou, Rick St. Peter of Caribou, and Richard West of Holden.
