Philip Veal Wins 2007 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Memphis Regional

Words: Al Arreguin
/Public/News/20070729160000-1.jpg" width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® will be held Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas, Nevada.">
The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® will be held Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Philip Veal, with R&G Masonry, Jonesboro, AR, will return again for his 4th appearance at the National level by winning the 2007 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Memphis Regional hosted by Ash Grove Packaging, a SPEC MIX licensee for the Memphis area.

The first Regional for the Mid-South area was held on July 28, at the Memphis, Tennesse, facility of Ash Grove Packaging, Inc., and drew masons from several surrounding states. It was a big day for R&G Masonry, as Philip Veal and his tender Billy Fitzpatrick laid 575 brick to lead the pack. Michael Hudgins and his tender Ryan Hudgins, with Hudgins Masonry, Chesapeake, VA, won the TOP CRAFTSMAN award and 2nd place with 522 brick laid. The first place winner moves on to the Nationals held on January 23, at the 2008 World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas, Nevada.

SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 Memphis Regional Results:

1st Place
Mason: Philip Veal
Tender: Billy Fitzpatrick
Brick Count: 575
Company: R&G Masonry
Location: Jonesboro, AR

Craftsmanship
Mason: Michael Hudgins
Tender: Ryan Hudgins
Company: Hudgins Masonry
Location: Chesapeake, VA

2nd Place
Mason: Michael Hudgins
Tender: Ryan Hudgins
Company: Hudgins Masonry.
Location: Chesapeake, VA

3rd Place:
Mason: Ray Robinson
Tender: Lynette Darby
Company: JAM Masonry
Location: Gainesville, FL
The Connected Mason: Modernizing the Classroom for the Future
March 2026

Masonry might be one of the world's oldest professions, but that does not mean the classroom should look like it's stuck in the past. Today's students are "digital natives," raised on interactive technology and instant feedback loops. As Career and Techni

Helical Beaming: Your Top 6 Questions on Installation, Cost, and Limitations
March 2026

Although helical masonry beaming is still an underutilized and relatively unknown method in masonry repair and restoration, the number of questions and requests I get on this topic increases every week, which I view as promising. Helical masonry beaming i

Wired for Safety: Electrical Maintenance for Fire Prevention
March 2026

Could your company survive if an electrical failure sparked a fire at your business? Electrical malfunctions cause thousands of non-residential building fires annually.1 Proactive maintenance and action are essential to help safeguard your operations.

From the Mound to the Mortar: Jon Rauch’s Tall Order in the Masonry Industry
March 2026

In the record books of Major League Baseball, Jon Rauch is a literal giant. At 6 feet, 11 inches, he remains the tallest player to ever step onto a Big League mound. But today, the Olympic Gold Medalist and 11-season MLB veteran isn’t looking for a strike