Amde Amde and John Myers awarded TMS Fellow Membership

Words: Phillip SamblanetThe Masonry Society's (TMS) Board of Directors and Awards Committee recently awarded Dr. Amde Amde of the University of Maryland and Dr. John Myers of Missouri University of Science and Technology with Fellow Membership in the Society. Fellow membership is one of the highest awards that can be bestowed on a TMS Member and is granted only rarely for exceptional service by individuals who have been Members of TMS for more than 10 years. TMS formally recognized Amde and Myers at the 2014 TMS Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona on October 11. They join a distinguished list of TMS Fellows.

Dr. Amde Amde is a Professor at the University of Maryland. He has been a member of TMS since 1983 and has made significant contributions to masonry education, masonry research and masonry code development. His services to TMS have included serving (1996-present) as Associate Editor and Editor of the TMS Journal, Member MSJC (1983-1998), contributed to the development of Masonry Designers’ Guide (1st-3rd editions), co-hosted TMS’ Masonry Professors Workshop and served on technical committees of several TMS conferences (NAMC). He was one of the early developers and promoters of a university level masonry course. Has served as Principal Investigator on numerous masonry research projects sponsored by NSF, USDOE, Masonry Research Foundation, International Masonry Institute, The Masonry Institute of Iowa, and others. One of his US patents is related to masonry structures.

Dr. John J. Myers is a Professor a the Missouri University of Science and Technology and is Director of their Structural Engineering Research Laboratory. He has contributed to the scholarly and educational advancement in the masonry field. His scholarly contributions have included the development of alternative sustainable masonry products as well as the advancement in the hardening and strengthening of masonry systems for extreme events including blast. His scholarly efforts on fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) to masonry has encompassed issues related to out-of-plane blast mitigation, in-plane shear behavior, bond behavior, substrate characterization, fatigue, and durability performance. He has served three terms on the TMS Board of Directors, Conference Chair of the 10th NAMC, and currently serves on the TMS Technical Activities Committee (TAC).
MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Episode 30 Recap: Pat Sauter, VP at King's Material, Inc.
October 2025

On this episode of the MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Pat Sauter joins the set in Indianapolis to talk about his hobbies, the future of the masonry industry, and CMU. Pat Sauter, with nearly 50 years in the masonry industry through his family business, King's M

Masonry Tools: 17,000 Years in the Making (and Still Counting)
October 2025

If you have ever looked into a mason’s toolbox and thought, “Haven’t I seen this before?” you are not wrong. Masonry has been shaping civilizations for more than 17,000 years, and while the structures have changed, the pace of tool innovation has been abo

MCAA's 2026 World Of Concrete Education Sessions: Quality Masonry, Wall Bracing, GEORGE, And The Return Of Foreman Development
October 2025

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is proud to present its comprehensive lineup of educational sessions for the 2026 World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas.

From the Wall to the Classroom: The Human Story of ReCastED
October 2025

For 30 years, you’ve been on the wall. You know the feel of the trowel in your hand, the sound of a solid mortar joint, and the pride of looking at a finished job. You’ve built a career with your hands, your skill, and your sweat.