The Wes Meilahn Award

If it wasn’t for 1974 ABC of Wisconsin President Wes Meilahn and a core of other courageous contractors, ABC of Wisconsin wouldn’t be here today- at least not in its present form. Wes gave today’s ABC member, the solid foundation on which this organization has been built. Wes was one of the founding members of ABC of Wisconsin and his name appears on our original articles of incorporation. We passed away in the early 80’s and at that time the leaders of ABC of Wisconsin decided to honor Wes by creating the Wes Meilahn Award.

The Wes Meilahn award is presented annually to an ABC of Wisconsin member that exemplifies the same tenacity, understanding, love and service toward the organization as did Wes. Past recipients read like a Who’s Who of ABC of Wisconsin and are widely known by members across the state. The previous winners are:

2005 Ron Klossner, Stiegler Electric & Communication Services.
2004 Robert Wing, Scott Construction, Inc.
2003 Bill Derrick, Derrick Companies
2002 Robert Riberich, Riberich, Inc.
2001 Jerry Stodola, Stodola-Maas Construction, Inc.
2000 Tom Malesevich, Sure-Fire, Inc.
1999 Mike McGrath, McGrath Electrical, Inc.
1998 Mike Benes, Benes & Krueger, S.C.
1997 Jim Sykes, Pheifer Bros. Construction Co., Inc.
1996 Pete Roehrig, Westra Construction, Inc.
1995 Tom Gilbank, Gilbank Construction, Inc.
1994 Tom Wightman, Quality Engineering, Inc.
1993 David Torkelson, (deceased) Mannheimer Construction Co., Inc.
1992 Sandra Seitz, Thomas J. Seitz Co., Inc.
1991 Mert Arntzen, Viking Steel, Inc.
1990 Steve Westra, Westra Construction, Inc.
1989 George Parker, Stiegler Electric & Communication Services
1988 Dave Mathews, Ace Iron & Steel Corp.
1987 Jim Weber, Bend Industries, Inc.
1986 Ron Miller, Miller Masonry & Concrete, Inc.
1985 Robert Pheifer, Pheifer Bros. Construction Co., Inc.
1984 Dewey Westra, Westra Construction, Inc.