b'THE MEASURE OF AN INDUSTRY When Jim McCawley entered the roofing business, the contractors life was comparatively simple.The country had just begun to overcome the depressing aspects of World War I and business trends were on the up rise.The principal types of roofing were wood shingles, slate, tile and built-up roofing.The use of slate, tile, and wood was decreasing and asphalt shingles rising rapidly. Built-up roofing was standard then as now, but areas of each roof were smaller. At the time, evidently better workmanship was in order than it is today, as an old American Roofer article testifies, A cut through the roof at any point and you will find six layers of pitch and five of felt.It was not possible to find any spot on the roof, which did not have its full quota of pitch and felt. It was at this time, that the Henry C. Smither Roofing & Sheet Metal Co., Indianapolis, Ind., received a letter from a customer that their predecessors, Sims & Smither, had serviced 42 years before.The roof, according to the customer, had never leaked, not was patched, painted, not repaired.We want another roof install just like this one, they said.Early Industry ProblemsONE OF THE major problems confronting the industry in the early 20s and just prior to that time, were the new ordinances being passed by city after city, requiring the installation of fir retardant roofs.A great deal of research was being done to find fire retardants to us on wood shingles.It was discovered then, that the casein in skim milk did an excellent though short-term job. Guarantees then, too were a problem.Architects and owners were asking for roofing guarantee periods that were unreasonable and unwarranted.Seven companies decided to fight and sent a letter to the Composition and Waterproofers Employers Association advising that they will give a three year guarantee only.These brave pioneers were:Sellers & Marquis Roofing Co., J. L. Gray, Mgr.: Missouri-Kansas Rfg. Co., A.W. Lewis, Mfg.; Western Rfg. Co., M. Savage, Pres.; Central Roofing Company, Sid K. Van Trump; D. W. Marquis Roofing Co., A. L. Leonard and J. J. Shirk Roofing Co., F. W. Freeman, President.J:\\ASSOC\\MRCA\\Living History\\1969\\The Measure of A Life-McCawley Bio.doc'