R.L. McCoy and Gary Brown Honored by Indy Concrete Community

The Indiana Chapter of the American Concrete Institute (ICACI) recently recognized ACPA member company R.L. McCoy Inc. and its director of business development, Gary Brown, ACPA past president and executive board member. The honors were presented at an awards ceremony in February, highlighting noteworthy contributions to Indiana’s concrete industry. The awards underscore Gary’s career-long dedication to safety and innovation, as well as R.L. McCoy’s excellence in delivering concrete pumping and bridge construction solutions across the state. Congratulations to Gary and R.L. McCoy!

GARY BROWN NAMED 2024 TRAILBLAZER

Gary Brown was honored with the ICACI Trailblazer Award for his many years of service, knowledge and continued work on ensuring safety in the concrete industry. Trailblazer Award recipients demonstrate significant experience in concrete and concrete construction-related activities. They are industry experts who advance concrete uses, concrete safety and workforce development in Indiana and the industry.

A seasoned professional with more than 47 years of experience in concrete pumping, Gary’s 27-year tenure with R.L. McCoy has been pivotal in expanding the company’s concrete pumping operations while prioritizing safety and efficiency.

“When Gary began working regularly for R.L. McCoy in the early 1990s, concrete pumping was new to the region,” says company owner Dan McCoy.  “We had purchased two concrete pumps for self-performing work within the bridge industry, and Gary’s expertise provided the confidence to invest in the emerging concrete pumping market.”

At the time, R.L. McCoy’s bridge construction operations were based in Columbia City in northeast Indiana. Gary expertly maneuvered investment and labor to expand into concrete pumping operations. Under Gary’s helm, R.L. McCoy underwent two building expansions, moving into the Indianapolis market and growing that location’s fleet of pumps from two to 30 units.

“It was his idea to take concrete pumps — and R.L. McCoy — to Indianapolis,” says Dan.  

With a focus on safety, service and dependability, Gary turned the company into the contractors’ choice for concrete pumping services. R.L. McCoy is now the market leader in Indiana. 

ACPA LEADERSHIP

Beyond his work in Indiana, Gary has also made a lasting impact at the national level. A past president and current executive board member of ACPA, Gary has chaired ACPA’s Safety and Certification Committee for 12 years. Under his leadership, ACPA achieved several notable milestones, including the enhancement of operator training programs, introduction of online access to certification materials, elevated integrity of certification testing procedures and the successful launch of initiatives like Train the Trainer, which have elevated industry safety and standards.

Gary’s hands-on approach and ability to connect with operators have made him a sought-after presenter of ACPA safety seminars. He remains committed to sharing his expertise and championing safety long after his service on ACPA’s Executive Board concludes.

R.L. MCCOY PROJECTS WIN SEVERAL ICACI AWARDS

R.L. McCoy had a standout showing in the Indiana Chapter of ACI’s 2024 Project Awards, with eight projects recognized in nine of 15 categories. The annual awards program celebrates outstanding contributions and innovation within Indiana’s concrete industry, honoring both finished projects and the teams that brought them to life.

Company owner Dan McCoy expressed his gratitude for the recognition and acknowledged the collective effort behind the company’s success.

“We are proud to be a part of building the future and restoring the past,” he said. “We would like to thank the contractors who had faith in us to provide quality pumping on their projects. Most importantly, we want to thank our R.L. McCoy team. Without the hard work and dedication of our pump operators, laborers, mechanics and dispatch, we couldn’t do what we love to do every day!” 

PROJECT OF THE YEAR: I-69 SECTION 6.5 — FINISH LINE

Taking top honors, the I-69 Finish Line is the sixth and final section of the Interstate 69 connection between Evansville and Indianapolis. Delivered by a joint venture between Walsh and Milestone Contractors and stretching 5.5 miles to I-465, the project eliminated at-grade crossings with the construction of new bridges. In all, 46 new bridges and four new bridge decks were built over a span of four years.

R.L. McCoy played a crucial role throughout the construction process, providing concrete pumping services for more than 140,000 cubic yards of concrete mixes, flowable fill, overlay mixes, cement slurry and drilled shaft mixes. This final stretch of new I-69 will improve safety, increase mobility and enhance quality of life. It is estimated to bring approximately $4.1 billion in economic benefits and jobs to the Hoosier State over the next 20 years. The project also won in the Transportation 1 category.

The following are additional 2024 ICAIC Project Awards categories won by R.L. McCoy projects.

• Transportation 1: I-69 Section 6.5 — Finish Line
• Commercial 1: Indy Polymer
• Commercial 2: Project Winston
• Commercial 3: MacAllister Rentals Bloomington
• Health Care/Life Science: U.S. Oncology Office Building
• Innovative Concrete: Indianapolis Zoo Walrus Exhibit
• Institutional & Cultural: Indiana University Ferguson International Center (in Bloomington)
• Residential: McCormick and 3rd Student Living Facility (at Purdue Research Foundation)

R.L. McCoy’s contributions to these award-winning projects reaffirm the company’s status as a leader in the concrete pumping industry, driven by a commitment to quality, innovation and teamwork.