Ray McDermott wins the 2007 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Denver Regional

Words: Al Arreguin
/Public/News/20070827163000-1.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.

Ray McDermott, with Selway Masonry, Lakewood, CO, is going to the National by winning the 2007 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Denver Regional hosted by QUIKRETE Denver, a SPEC MIX licensee for the Colorado region. The Regional was held on August 25, at the Denver, CO, facility of QUIKRETE, and drew masons from several cities in the state.

It was a big day for Selway Masonry, as Ray and his tender Leo Mullen laid 522 brick to lead the pack. Gilberto Madera, with Fischbach Masonry, Lakewood, CO, and his tender Jesus Madera won the TOP CRAFTSMAN award and 3rd place. 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 Chicago Regional Results:

1st Place
Mason: Ray McDermott
Tender: Leo Mullen
Brick Count: 522
Company: Selway Masonry
Location: Denver, CO

Craftsmanship
Mason: Gilberto Madera
Tender: Jesus Madera
Company: Fischbach Masonry
Location: Denver, CO

2nd Place
Mason: Erick Hermosillo
Tender: Gerardo Tarango
Company: Eatherton Masonry
Location: Denver, CO

3rd Place
Mason: Gilberto Madera
Tender: Jesus Madera
Company: Fischbach Masonry
Location: Denver, CO
The Enduring Power of Structural Masonry
July 2025

Masonry has been holding its ground for millennia — literally. And thanks to the simple brilliance of arching action, it continues to do so with strength, style, and surprising efficiency. In an era of advanced modeling and fast-moving schedules, one time

Outreach Outlook: Momentum in Motion
July 2025

As we move into the heart of summer, the masonry industry continues to thrive—fueled by innovation, partnership, and a growing commitment to excellence in education and workforce advancement. June has been a remarkable month, marked by events that not onl

Building More: Slow, Fast, or Consistent. What is Tempo?
July 2025

It was a drizzly midweek day when I rolled up to the project we were working on just outside of town. The foreman paced the scaffolding, rain hood half-zipped, barking at two laborers who were sprinting bricks like they were late for a flight. Forty feet

Marvelous Masonry: Belém Tower
July 2025

The Belém Tower in Lisbon, Portugal, stands as a testament to stone construction's enduring artistry and technical prowess. Erected between 1514 and 1519, this iconic structure served as a defensive bastion at the mouth of the Tagus River and as a ceremon