The Associated Builders and Contractors presented its Craft Professional of the Year Award to Ray Drinkwater, electrical foreman at Greiner Electric, during its annual convention.

The Associated Builders and Contractors presented its Craft Professional of the Year Award to Ray Drinkwater, electrical foreman at Greiner Electric, Littleton, Colo., during its annual convention in February. ABC presents the award each year to a craft professional who excels in his or her field, maintains a lifelong commitment to training and upholds the merit shop philosophy.

The winner is selected from seven craft category winners, who are evaluated on the candidate's mastery of job-related skills, jobsite and safety performance record, leadership, professionalism, community and industry service, personal motivation, credentials, commitment to the merit construction philosophy, and recognition by others for the candidate's excellence in craft skills and teamwork to complete projects successfully.

The finalist in the plumbing category was Charles Hubert Thomas of Lake Mechanical Contractors (Eustis, Fla.). The pipefitting finalist was Jerome (Lee) Jacque of DELCARD Associates (New Castle, Del.).

The Craft Instructor of the Year was presented to Harold (Hal) Heintz, instructor at the ABC South Texas Chapter. ABC presents this award to an instructor who possesses outstanding teaching credentials and demonstrates a commitment to preserving the high educational standards of the merit shop and the construction industry.