Raymond Bryan, T. A. Loving Company, Goldsboro, NC

Born in 1899, Raymond Arthur Bryan was a native of Newton Grove North Carolina. He studied engineering at North Carolina State College before entering the work force with the W. P. Rose Construction Company in Goldsboro. The Great depression would take its toll on W. P. Rose and in 1931 the company went into receivership. Raymond made the decision to join T. A. Loving Company later that same year – a company founded by Taylor Abbitt Loving in 1925, that at the time was primarily engaged in the business of building bridges for the railroads.  

In 1935, Raymond was named General Manager of what would become the building division of the company.  

T. A. Loving and Company, as it was then known, was incorporated in 1937 and Raymond was named Secretary & Treasurer. When Taylor Abbitt Loving succumbed to illness at the early age of 47, Raymond became President of the company. 

As fitting a man of his talents and position, Raymond Bryan was involved and influential in many aspects of business. He joined his brother Byron in the Calypso Plywood Company and with his brother Robert in the organization of Aviation Fuel Terminals in Morehead City. He was a Director of Wachovia Bank & Trust in Winston-Salem, a member of the executive committee for the State Capital Life Insurance Company which later became Durham Life Insurance Company. His other directorships included Carolina Power & Light, Atlantic and East Carolina Railway, the Carolina Motor Club, and the Carolinas Associated General Contractors. He would lead the Carolinas AGC as President in 1940. Ironically, during his presidency of CAGC, the convention was held right here in Myrtle Beach South Carolina some 80 years ago.

Raymond would also be associated with a number of other business ventures and partnerships across the state including:  The Cameron Village Shopping Center with Willie York, where the “Bryan Building” still stands today.  

North Hills Properties, Inc. – which when sold in 1980 owned (18) shopping centers including North Hills Mall in Raleigh, University Mall in Chapel Hill and some 3,500 apartment units.  

Cameron-Brown Co. with partners Cliff Cameron and Jim Poyner. Cameron-Brown would grow to become one of the largest mortgage lenders in the country and later merge with First Union Bank. Raymond served as Chairman of the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors and Vice Chairman of the NC Ports Authority under Govs. William B. Umstead and Luther H. Hodges administrations. Honors bestowed upon Raymond included the Watauga Medal from North Carolina State University in 1977 for his lifelong support of the University. The Watauga Medal is the highest non- academic honor awarded by university trustees, administration, and faculty. He was a long-serving trustee for Campbell University and Meredith College – with both institutions recognizing him for his contributions and Campbell University awarding an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1979. Bryan was also a founder of the Goldsboro United Fund, precursor of the United Way of Wayne County and recipient of the Salvation Army’s highest honor for service to that organization. Raymond’s legacy of giving lives on through the R. A. Bryan Foundation, an organization committed to supporting charitable causes across the southeast. The “Bryan Foundation” continues to support educational opportunity, healthcare and medical research, and other charitable causes today. A eulogy delivered at his funeral stated that Raymond had lived his life humbly and shared himself freely for the lifting up of the quality of human life and for the common good. Though he was honored publicly many times, he did not seek attention. It was said that he knew how to help without putting you in his debt, how to encourage without insisting his own way, and how to give without seeking credit. Perhaps the quality most in keeping with his memory of T. A. Loving employees is a statement Raymond made to his nurse during his last days. “There are those who seek riches, for riches sake; and those who seek success that they may share with others”. Raymond Bryan will be remembered for sharing his riches with others. A humanitarian that responded to community service for all worthy causes. 

Hal Thompson, J. M. Thompson Company, Cary, NC

Hal was born in Raleigh and lived in Raleigh all of his life. He graduated from Hugh Morson High School, where he was captain of the track team, and later attended N.C. State University School of Engineering. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII where his love of mechanical things and building inspired him to become a P-51 fighter pilot. While stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, he married Grace, his wife of 63 years. They returned to Raleigh after the war where they raised their 4 children.  

Hal joined his father’s construction company in 1946, where he worked for more than 60 years. His legacy is carried on today by his three sons, John, Dickie, and Marty, and they are joined by Hal’s Grandsons, Travis and Paul, who now operates the company, which will be celebrating their 100th year this September.  

Hal received many industry and civic awards throughout his lifetime, including the Carolinas AGC Pinnacle Award for Executive of the Year and Industry Recognition Award from General Contractors Association of Raleigh, where he was a founding member. He served on the board of trustees of Louis-burg College for 27 years and was an active member of the Raleigh Exchange Club for 63 years. 

Barry Gardner, Shelco, LLC, Charlotte, NC

Barry joined Shelco as a project manager in 1984 and then promoted to Executive Vice President of the Winston Salem office in 1992. In addition to managing operations at the Winston Salem office, he also co-manages the Raleigh Shelco office.  

Barry has always shown strong support of AGC over the years. In the Carolinas he has served on the NC Bar Association/CAGC Joint Committee, the AIA NC/CAGC Joint Committee, contributed to the NC PAC for many years, and served as our Chair of our Board of Directors in 2007. On a National level, Barry has been on the AGC of America Elected Directors, AGC Board of Governors, and is now a National AGC Life Director. 

Barry has served as the Chairman of the NC Building Code Council, he is a board member and past board chair for the Frankie Lemmon School, and serves on the Engineering Advisory Council, at his alma mater, NC State University. 

Barry married his wonderful wife, Pam, on July 4th, 46 years ago. One thing they knew, they would always have fireworks on their anniversary. They have 2 daughters, Carly and Brett and 2 grand daughters, Ruby and Reid and they are going to expanding by 2 more grandchildren soon! 

When Barry isn’t leading Shelco, assisting AGC, or chasing grand children around he enjoys playing golf all over the world, esp Scotland and Ireland. He has actually made 3 hole in ones over the years! 

When Pam was asked about her husband she said, Barry is a strong man of God, he loves his family, and he loves to laugh and have a great time! 

Benjy Hardee, A.O. Hardee & Son, Inc., Little River, SC
Benjy Hardee is President and Chief Executive Officer of A. O. Hardee & Son, Inc., a heavy/highway site contractor licensed in South Carolina since 1981 and North Carolina since 1985. He is also Owner and Managing Member of Hardee Group Holdings, LLC.  He has been the developer of numerous residential and golf course communities in both North and South Carolina. He has built numerous golf courses in the Grand Strand area, numerous roads including major sections of SC HWY 31 and SC HWY 22 and hundreds of miles of other primary and secondary roads and various airport and military facilities. Benjy is currently Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Grand Strand Water & Sewer Authority (a position he has been serving for over 32 years), he also currently serves on the Northeastern Strategic Alliance Board, the CAGC/SCDOT Joint Committee as well as a Board Member of the South Carolina Alliance to Fix Our Roads. He is a partner of and supports the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corp. From 2000 until 2008, Benjy was a member of the local advisory board of BB&T Bank and in 2015 he served on the Horry County Ride III Advisory Committee. 

Benjy & Lynda have supported and donated to the University of South Carolina for over 30 years and were honored recently when Williams Brice made some major exterior renovations and named a new South Gate entrance “Hardee Gate”. Benjy also serves on the Garnet Way Committee. The Garnet Way Committee is an advisory committee to Ray Tanner, Athletic Director for the University of South Carolina.  
 
Benjy & Lynda are North Myrtle Beach Chiefs Booster Club members and have supported the North Myrtle Beach Chiefs athletic program as well as the NMB recreation department for many years. Benjy was honored in 2019 when he was inducted into the North Myrtle Beach High School Hall of Fame, in part for his accomplishments as a student athlete and for his continued support of the athletic program through the years.  

Benjy is a founding member and director of Coastal Carolina Bancshares, Inc. and Coastal Carolina National Bank (CCNB). Benjy also serves on several committees within the bank.