History – those who have made it and those who will – was on grand display at the CalAPA Annual All-Member Meeting and Awards Dinner last week at the opulent Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles.

The association on Jan. 16 honored longtime paving contractor Skip Brown with induction into the association’s “Hall of Fame,” and held a special posthumous induction ceremony for Gerry Graham of San Jose-based Reed & Graham. There was also recognition for those the industry has lost in the past year, including legendary World Oil leader and philanthropist Bob Roth, Bill Darnell with Valero, Gene Guido with Reed & Graham and U.C. Berkeley Professor Emeritus Carl Monismith, a previous CalAPA Hall of Fame inductee credited with numerous innovations, including the long-life asphalt pavement design strategy now increasingly used by Caltrans.

Keynote speaker Lori Wilson, chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, proclaimed that the state is at a “crossroads” in terms of funding for transportation, protecting our existing roadway infrastructure and also enhancing it to withstand climate change-enhanced weather events (see sidebar).

The sometimes somber tone of the evening was punctuated by moments of levity, including when Brown unexpectedly pulled out an empty paint can, placed it on the stage near the microphone, and booted it across the room. “This association,” he growled, “has nothing to do with kicking the can down the road. We’re going to make it better.” The stunned audience roared its approval.

Wilson, who spoke after Brown, was clearly inspired by the gesture. She has also earned a reputation in her relatively short time in Sacramento for pragmatism, coalition-building and getting things done. She asked if she could have the can to display in her office in Sacramento as a reminder to all visitors of the timeless message. She also asked Brown to sign it, which he gladly did. Over the weekend a photo of the now famous can, dent and all, perched on a ledge in Wilson’s office, was circulating on social media with the hashtag: #NoMoreKickingTheCan . Yes, that really happened.

The CalAPA annual dinner, a fixture of the asphalt pavement industry since the 1960s, was held once again at the historic Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles. Founded in 1895, the Jonathan Club has hosted countless titans of business and government in its ornate halls. Gavin Newsom spoke at CalAPA’s Annual Dinner in 2014 as he was preparing his run for governor, and former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti delivered remote remarks to the association during the pandemic year of 2020. The event also featured former Assembly Transportation Committee Chair Jim Frazier, the Assembly floor manager for SB1, the $50 billion Road Repair & Accountability Act of 2017.

The installation of officers for 2025, and election board members to serve two-year terms, also took place during the evening event. During the swearing-in ceremony, each pledged as a group to put the interests of the association and the industry above individual and company interests. That theme of service and integrity was emphasized by Brown, longtime owner of Delta Construction and a former CalAPA board member.

“I’m the luckiest person in this room,” Brown said shortly before his induction into the Hall of Fame. “I was born in the United States of America. I had two parents who gave me guidelines, of structure, of respect, and the value of work, and the one word that answers all questions: ethics. If you have good ethics, there is no other question. If you don’t have good ethics, there is no other question.”

Brown saluted “all the wonderful people who are in here,” thanked them for the recognition, and added, “because they all have a common sense of what we want to do, because there’s never the right time to do something wrong. And there’s never the wrong time to do something right. And that’s what this association stands for.”

The impromptu recognition for the legendary Monismith, who died Jan. 7 in Montana at age 98, was poignant. He was revered in the world of asphalt, both nationally and internationally. Bob Humer, retired senior regional engineer for the Asphalt Institute, referred to Monismith as a “giant” and recalled how when he was an engineering student in Holland in the 1970s his professors were referencing Monismith’s work. Former asphalt association executive Jim St. Martin recalled how he had known Monismith for decades on a personal as well as professional basis.

“He was honest. He was true. He was a class act. He was a real gentleman,” St. Martin said.

CalAPA Board Member and Officer, Chris Gerber, president of G3 Quality, a testing lab, echoed the sentiment of Humer and St. Martin that Monismith was instrumental in providing the foundational research to validate the long-life asphalt pavement design strategy. Long-life asphalt pavement, also known as “Perpetual Pavement,” is designed to last 40 or more years with minimal maintenance.

“I did have the opportunity to work with Carl on the Long-life Asphalt Pavement project on the 710 freeway, and for me it was such a memorable experience,” Gerber said. “He reached out, he brought industry together, with academia and Caltrans, and really made the long-life pavement program happen.” The 710 was constructed in phases starting in 2001 and numerous CalAPA member firms participated, including All American Asphalt. A “California Asphalt” magazine article about the design is HERE.

“He was an astonishing person,” Gerber said, “and someone who I will remember the rest of my life as a mentor.” Monismith’s Memorial Service will be held March 21 in El Cerrito.

Another larger-than-life figure, Gerry Graham, was remembered by his family members (pictured) who accepted his “Hall of Fame” award in his memory.

“I want to thank the Board for honoring him with this,” Dave Graham said. “This was a surprise. We are very grateful as a family, and we really appreciate it. We come from a long line of asphalt pavers and asphalt producers. We were born and raised in it. My grandfather was in this industry. I’m in this industry. My son is in the industry. We’re looking at five generations if we can keep it going.”

Of his father, Graham said, “My father literally grew up playing in the sand piles in the hot plant. He was pulling the weeds along the fence line. And then he was sweeping the floors, shoveling, and running the loader. He built the plant, and then he ran the plant, he ran the business, he ran multiple businesses. He was involved in the industry from the ground up. Literally, until he died, he was involved in this industry.”

During the installation of officers part of the event, association members elected the following members to two-year terms on the Board of Directors: Scott Metcalf, Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions; Kevin Jeffers, Albina; Jeff Benedict, Valero; Frank Costa, Martin Marietta; Ron Criss, Hat Creek Construction; Tim Denlay, Knife River; Kody King, Mercer-Fraser; Jeremiah Lemons, CRH; Scott Bottomley, Sully-Miller/Blue Diamond; Eric Richard, Reed & Graham; Chris Handley, Tullis, Inc.; Pete Lambert, McGuire & Hester; Robert Jarvis, Century Paving; Steve Ward, Pavement Recycling Systems; and Chris Gerber, G3 Quality.

The association officers for 2025 were installed as Scott Metcalf, chairman; Frank Costa, vice chairman; Scott Bottomley, Treasurer; Chris Gerber, Secretary; and Jeff Benedict, Immediate Past Chair.

The event sponsors were (table sponsors): Albina Asphalt; Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions; Martin Marietta; Polyco; R.J. Noble Company; Reed & Graham; Sully Miller / Blue Diamond and Valero Energy Corp. Main event sponsor was Kenco Engineering. Reception sponsors were G3 Quality, Mercer-Fraser Company and Pavement Recycling Systems. The lanyard sponsor was Tally Oil. The “rooftop after-party” sponsor was CRH-BoDean-Dutra Materials. Additional photos from the event are on the association's various social media feeds, including the CalAPA Facebook page HERE.

Assemblywoman Lori Wilson, D-Suisun City, chair of the powerful Assembly Transportation Committee, warned a gathering of asphalt industry leaders last week that transportation in California was “at a crossroads,” with tough and complex decisions looming in the near future.

“What I understand, really, is the honor it is to be in this space and in this room with all of you, to stand before leaders who ensure that our statewide roadway infrastructure remains safe, connected and well-funded,” she said at CalAPA's Annual Dinner Jan. 16 in Los Angeles. “Your work paves the way, literally and figuratively, for California’s communities to thrive. Our roadways are vital to every Californian's quality of life. Every Californian. Whether it is commuting to work, transporting goods, or responding to emergencies like the devastating wildfires currently impacting our state, your efforts enable safe and efficient travel when it matters the most.”

A former mayor and member of the Suisun City City Council, Wilson said she her remarks were tempered by the fact that devastating wildfires were still burning in Southern California.

“One of the things fires do is they remind us of the critical role roadways play, not just for our daily commutes, but as lifelines in emergencies,” she said. “Whether it is the first responders navigating evacuation routes, or residents seeking safety, our transportation systems must be resilient.” She said “resilient infrastructure … will remain central to my legislative focus as chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee.”

After walking the audience through the interwoven policy aims of sustainability, accountability, equity and being responsible with tax dollars, Wilson paused to address “the elephant in the room” – the state’s dwindling fuel tax revenue stream and the need to find a replacement for the system -- gas taxes -- that has funded road repairs for a century.

“As Californians embrace electric vehicles and other low-emission technologies, traditional funding streams for road maintenance are drying up,” Wilson warned. “The state’s climate goals, while necessary, have created a funding gap that we cannot ignore. Gas tax revenues are projected to decline by up to $4 billion annually by 2035. Meanwhile, our infrastructure needs are growing. You all see it first-hand.”

“We must acknowledge the looming funding gap caused by declining gas tax revenues,” she said. Asphalt Insider ranked that issue as No. 1 in its annual prediction of the top stories that will impact the asphalt industry in 2025. That story is HERE.

Wilson lauded programs like the road-use pilot program to test other ways to pay for transportation as “steps in the right direction,” and noted that other states, such as Virginia, Utah and Hawaii, are further along on adopting the road-user charge model. She said transitioning from fuel taxes won’t be easy, but said “it is the collaboration between public and private sectors at all levels of government (that) will be essential to make these programs a reality.”

Wilson said another major issue, the disconnect between housing and transportation, is also among her top priorities. “High housing costs have pushed many families further from their places of work, increasing their reliance on long commutes. Those most affected are often the least able to afford cleaner vehicles or endure the environmental and health impacts of long hours on congested roads. Strategic investments in transportation can help address this issue. And by improving connectivity between housing and employment centers, we can reduce commute times, lower emissions and improve the quality of life for countless Californians.”

“We really are at a crossroads,” she concluded. “Our state faces some of the nation’s most significant challenges in terms of roadway quality and congestion. Some of our aspirational policies have left whole communities behind, even some of the most vulnerable populations. The challenges we face are daunting, but the opportunities for innovation and progress are boundless.“

In keeping with the looking back and looking ahead theme of the event, Wilson wrapped up her remarks by saying. “We made a promise to all Californians. We must continue to upgrade and complete our roadway system. This is a pivotal moment for transportation in California. And together we can tackle the challenges ahead and ensure that our state remains a leader in innovation, resilience and sustainability. You play an important role. The work you do matters. It matters to the millions of Californians who rely on our roads daily. It matters to the first responders who save lives during wildfires. And it matters to future generations who will inherit this infrastructure. I appreciate your commitment, partnership, and unwavering dedication to building a better California. Now, let’s get to work.”

In a story in last week's Asphalt Insider about the passing of U.C. Berkeley Professor Emeritus Carl Monismith, the date of his upcoming memorial service was reported incorrectly. It will be March 21 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Jerome Church, 308 Carmel Avenue, El Cerrito. The original Asphalt Insider story is HERE.

Each week we highlight a word, acronym or other term commonly used in the asphalt pavement industry in California.

LONGITUDINAL JOINT: A constructed joint in a pavement layer that is oriented parallel to the pavement centerline. 

Each week we highlight a key point or best practice of interest to asphalt paving crews, inspectors and others working in the field. We welcome suggestions. More tips can be found in our "Asphalt Parking Lot Construction Checklist" HERE. Information on the CalAPA "Quality Paving Certificate" program is HERE.

ASPHALT MIXTURE: Ask yourself: Is this the correct mix type for the project and the layer you are

constructing? Verify that the truck delivery ticket matches the approved mix design.

Each week we highlight a term that is specific to climate-change issues related to the asphalt pavement industry. This feature is intended to raise awareness of the asphalt industry's climate-change initiatives and the specialized terminology that goes with them. More information on "The Road Forward" asphalt industry climate initiative can be found HERE. A recent CalAPA magazine story on the topic is HERE.

QUALITY ASSURANCE: Method to prevent mistakes in manufactured products and ensure quality.

“When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one.”



– Edmund Burke

We hope you enjoy CalAPA's Asphalt Insider newsletter. We are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date information on technical issues, regulation, news, analysis, people, events and trends in California that is of interest to the asphalt pavement industry and our various agency partners. To subscribe to the newsletter, click HERE. For comments, questions or to suggest a story idea, click HERE. We are committed to promptly notifying our readers of any errors in this publication. Please click on the comment link above to alert the editor of any errors or omissions.

Sincerely,

Russell W. Snyder, CAE

Executive Director

The California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA)®