Background . . .

While President Franklin Roosevelt was announcing "highway funds now available are insufficient to meet the needs for better highways demanded by heavier and faster automobile traffic" Illinois was awarding contracts. In March of 1937, R. A. Cullinan was awarded Sec. 5 (MFT) 2.74 miles 18-feet traffic bound surface course, earth grading and pipe culvert for $10,582.48. This same year a handful of foresighted contractors, D. E. Lynch, Judd Weatherby, Roy Ellison and Robert Scales, met at the St. Nick Hotel in Springfield. They had a dream and were prepared to pursue that dream. Knowing there is strength in numbers, these pioneers decided to organize. They selected D. E. Lynch, Sr., as their president and became the Illinois Bituminous Distributors Association.

At their first formal Annual Meeting in Springfield in 1938, Acting Chairman Judd B. Weatherby, (Weatherby Construction Corp. of Ottawa,) conducted the business meeting. D. E. Lynch, Sr., (D. E. Lynch & Sons), was elected President of the new Association and held this post for three one-year terms.

In 1941, with increased highway construction and new technologies being developed, the Bituminous Distributors adopted a new, more accurate name, the Illinois Blacktop Roads Association. Ray Ellison, of Carthage Construction, was elected President. The Association immediately gained recognition by the trade magazines and became an integral part of the construction industry. The Illinois Blacktop Roads Association met each November to reassess their industry and elect new officers.

From 1941 until 1967 the Illinois Blacktop Road Association promoted the image of their product and the quality of their work and became consistently more viable as a group.

In 1967, under the leadership of E. L. Docter of Maclair Asphalt Company, the membership voted to enhance their image by modernizing their name. The Illinois Asphalt Association technically defined the goals they wanted to achieve in the rapidly growing highway construction and maintenance program. The new name opened new doors for opportunity and the Association became stronger, more technical and more visible.

From the handful of optimistic and perceptive pioneers who in 1937 saw the future of the use of bituminous material, our industry and Association have grown to be the giant.

As we look back over well more than a half century of "progress and to our future accomplishments and goals", the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association will continue to build the dream of our forefathers.

Recognition is given to the gentlemen who have lead our Association through financial droughts, war times, technical triangles, price escalation and combats of competition --

To All of Our Founders, Presidents, and to All IAPA Members:
CONGRATULATIONS! WE'VE COME A LONG WAY...
And Yet Our Journey Has No End, Our Progress Knows No Bounds.

Accomplishments Through The Years . .

		Provided testimony of industry position on Federal Highway Regulations on various technical issues
		A Recycling Task Force completed work with IDOT in the development of recycling specifications now included in all jobs
		Obtained an agreement with IDOT for contractor to own salvaged asphalt reclaimed from jobs
		Commissioned technical research on structural coefficients for asphalt design that proves higher coefficient and therefore thinner asphalt designs are justified
		Established a Bituminous Mix Design and Specifications Task Force which is presently working with IDOT for the improvement of mix design and specifications
		Developed a "College Bituminous Technology Committee"
		Worked to reduce contractor retainer requirements to 2%
		Improved mix design specifications and control of Class I mixtures
		Successfully encouraged IDOT to design and let Thin Overlay Experimental projects
		Established an IAPA College Engineering Bituminous Scholarship
		Helped obtain legislation allowing Sales Tax refunds on materials for projects ultimately belonging to a governmental body
		Retained asphalt share of road program
		Reached a compromise with Illinois Power on rate increase
		Worked with IDOT and Toll Road developing improved recycling specifications
		Determined through our Free Enterprise Task Force that local governments could not purchase equipment with MFT funds
		Obtained liability coverage on antitrust, discrimination, and insufficient administration for Board Members
		Justified continuation of Asphalt Price Adjustment Clause
		Awarded scholarships to engineering students at several Illinois Universities
		Established a new IAPA position of Director of Research and Engineering for more technical coordination and communication between governmental agencies, private developers, consulting engineers and IAPA members
		Worked with NAPA to increase the use of hot mix asphalt in hydraulics
		Shown that the design of asphalt overlays have lasted substantially longer than IDOT projected
		Established a "Consulting Engineer" category to improve technical and design communications
		Hire
		Added professional engineer as Director of Research and Engineering to our IAPA staff
		Established a quality library
		Worked successfully with IDOT to improve roller specifications
		Initiated unification of Aeronautics and Highways' bituminous specifications
		Met with various city councils promoting the use of asphalt
		Lobbied for IDOT's decision to use the Mechanistic Pavement Design for demonstration project on interstate
		Prepared a "Right to Know" kit on toxic substances for members
		Joined and participated in the State Transportation Alliance of Associations
		Formed a political action committee: "The Good Government Council"

 

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241 North 5th Street;
Springfield, IL 62701
P: 217-523-2208
F: 217-544-0086

Email: info@il-asphalt.org

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