Ash Grove, Monarch principals define longevity on PCA 100-year timeline

Sources: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill.; CP staff

Centennial anniversary observances during the 2016 PCA Spring Congress peaked with a March 14 reception at Chicago’s Renaissance Blackstone Hotel, where officials of Ash Grove Lime & Cement, Continental Portland Cement, Lehigh Portland Cement and 50 peer operators had assembled in 1916 to “raise the standard of concrete construction, improve the quality of concrete work, increase the quantity of cement used in established fields, and develop new fields.”

Addressing upwards of 200 at the famed Michigan Avenue venue, PCA Centennial Chairman and 2012-13 Chairman Cary Cohrs (American Cement) recognized Ash Grove, Continental and Lehigh as founding association members. He also acknowledged as “first families of cement” the Sunderlands and Wulfs, owing to their deep association, industry and Kansas ties. Lester Sunderland, great grandfather of Ash Grove Chairman Charlie Sunderland, served as the 1920 PCA chairman. Monarch Cement’s Walter Wulf Jr., current director, is the son of the PCA 50th anniversary committee chairman; his family has managed the company since 1913.

Under the “Celebrating 100 Years of Excellence” theme, PCA centennial anniversary observances will continue across the calendar, upcoming national events including the 2016 IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Conference, May 15-19 in Dallas, and the 2016 Washington, D.C. Fly-In, May 24-25.

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