The Metal Construction Association (MCA) recently honored two of its members - Dick Bus and Jim Bush - with two significant awards - the Larry A. Swaney Award and Patrick R. Bush Volunteer Service Award respectively, at its Annual Meeting, January 25, in San Diego, Calif.

GLENVIEW, Ill. -- The Metal Construction Association (MCA) recently honored two of its members - Dick Bus and Jim Bush - with two significant awards - the Larry A. Swaney Award and Patrick R. Bush Volunteer Service Award respectively, at its Annual Meeting, January 25, in San Diego, Calif.

The Larry A. Swaney Award honors one of MCA's founders and its first president who gave his all to the industry and the association. "This year we bestowed the honor on someone who was born into the industry, someone who has been very active in the association and the industry for many years - Dick Bus, President, ATAS International," said MCA President Jeff Irwin, Kingspan Benchmark.

Among his achievements, Bus was president of MCA and served as a member of its board of directors for more than 18 years; he was a founder of The Metal Initiative and the first president of the Metal Roofing Alliance. For his efforts in the metal construction industry, Bus won the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Market Development Industry Leadership Award, and in December 2009, Bus was selected among five local business people in Allentown, Pa. to have lunch at a local restaurant with President Barack Obama.

Colleagues have praised Bus' talents and achievements confirming his recognition. A nominator said, "Dick has brought tremendous energy and enthusiasm to MCA and to the industry. His sacrificial leadership is a model to us all." Another one noted, "It's hard to think of anyone who has done more to promote the increased use of metal in construction. Dick's hard work and innovative ideas have significantly increased the opportunities for everyone involved in the metal industry."

The Patrick R. Bush Service Award was recently established to honor Pat Bush, a longtime MCA Board member and past Larry A. Swaney Award winner who passed away suddenly in 2010. The award recognizes one individual from a member company who has recently made significant volunteer contributions to the Metal Construction Association.

As the first recipient of this award and a 25-year veteran in the industry, Jim Bush, Vice President of Sales, ATAS International, was recognized for many achievements, including: chairman of the MCA Roofing Council, Chair of the Retrofit Council, Chair of the MCA Roofing Certification Committee, and annual organizer of the MCA Demo Area at METALCON International.

As one nominator said, "Jim always volunteers when a committee has a project, and when the need comes up. He always does this with a positive attitude. When a problem comes up that needs to be resolved, Jim has a unique way of solving it from a different perspective and often times offers a unique solution."