Underground Construction - June 2021 - 38

DCA 60th Anniversary
Jim Upton joined the association during 1962 as the first
executive secretary and was instrumental in guiding DCA.
" How Distribution Contractors Can Sell Gas " was the theme of
the third-annual convention in Denver, February 1964. Attendees
were told that increased gas use is in the best interests of the association,
since increased consumption requires system expansion.
Contractors were also urged to support privately owned utilities,
since government ownership of gas systems was increasing.
Association members encouraged the new leadership to
continue negotiations for a nationwide labor agreement. In
keeping with the original aims of the association, members
were also urged to increase contractor share of the distribution
construction business.
New officers elected were A.T. Everham, president; F.E. Everett,
Jr., Mid-Mountain Contractors, first vice president; Robert W.
Burkhardt, Burkhardt Pipeline Construction Co., second vice president;
and Deane Baker, Somerville Construction Co., treasurer.
An attendance record of 254 was set at the fourth-annual convention
in New Orleans, February 1965. This included 77 wives,
far more than had attended any of the previous conventions.
During 1964, the DCA had joined the National Safety Council,
which was tabulating a survey of DCA members. Attendees were
told that approximately 44 percent of gas distribution construction
was awarded to contractors in 1964.
New officers included F.E. Everett, president; Robert W. Burkhardt,
first vice president; and Deane Baker, second vice president.
First national agreement
Attendees at the fifth-annual convention in Phoenix, 1966, had
a lot to celebrate, as the first national labor agreement had been
signed by the association in 1965. DCA signed an agreement
with the United Association of Welders and negotiated the first
statewide agreement with the Operating Engineers. Negotiations
with other crafts continued during 1966.
For the first time, roundtable and panel discussions were held
as part of the convention program, and these proved very popular
with members. Attendance hit record levels again in 1966.
Elected to office were Robert W. Burkhardt, president; Edwin
Gabrielse, Gabe's Construction Co., first vice president; Paul E.
Thibodaux, O.R. Burden Construction Co., second vice president;
and Sid R. Snider, The Hallen Construction Co., treasurer.
A shortage of skilled workers in virtually all crafts continued
to be a problem in 1966, although positive negotiations with
unions proceeded. These issues were addressed at the sixth-annual
convention in Coronado, Calif., in February 1967.
Organized discussions at the convention covered industry-related
problems such as labor, company-contractor relations, and
ways to increase market share, as well as " bread and butter " issues:
safety, cost control and insurance.
New officers were R.E. Reutzel, R.E. Reutzel Co., Inc., president;
Paul E. Thibodaux, first vice president; S.R. Snider, second vice
president; and Edwin Gabrielse, treasurer.
The 1968 convention was held in conjunction with the National
Association of Pipe Coating Applicators convention in Las Vegas.
Roundtable discussion focused on the increasing use of plastic
pipe and pipe plowing instead of backfilling. The shortage of skilled
labor eased somewhat during 1967.
Officers for 1968 were Sid Snider, president; Don W. Miller, first
vice president; Edwin Gabrielse, second vice president; and L.R.
Young, L.R. Young Construction Co., treasurer.
A number of formal and informal state associations of distribution
contractors were formed during 1968. Another industry trend
was the increasing use of plastic pipe.
Plastic pipe installation techniques were a major topic of
discussion at the 1969 convention in Freeport, Grand Bahamas.
This event was held immediately following the PLCA convention in
Florida and had a record attendance of 442 delegates.
38 JUNE 2021 | UCONonline.com
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