b'MRCA NewsMRCA McCawley Award Winner Richard Dick Fricklas Passes AwayAn Industry Leader in Research and EducationD ick passed away on July 27th. His name isSystems Institute (BURSI) school for architects and known throughout the roofing industry as aengineers. When BURSIs first director retired in researcher, author, journalist1974, Dick was invited and educator. to take over the widely He retired fromrecognized program.the Roofing IndustryIn 1978 at the request of Educational InstituteNRCAs Board of Directors, in 1996, but continuedBURSI invited National to lecture and publishRoofing Contractors frequently. He was co-authorAssociation (NRCA) of the fourth edition of thedirectors to attend the entire-Manual of Low Slope Roof4-day educational program. Systems and a contributingAn ad-hoc committee was columnist for RSI, RCIformed to explore creating Interface and Buildingsan industry-wide educational Magazines. corporation similar to His roofing career startedBURSI, and Dick was in 1957 as an R&D chemistinvited to be the Roofing for Johns-Manville, andIndustry Educational as a development chemistInstitutes (RIEI) first for Riegel Paper Corp. Hetechnical director.returned to JM in 1964In 1996, dick retired from and joined their RoofingRIEI but remained active Division. He received ain the industry, writing a patent for a fire-rated vaporTechnical Instruction for retarder system, and was co- the Corps of Engineers and developer of other patentedco-authoring the 3rd and product lines. He also was4th editions of the Manual given the opportunity toof Low Slope Roofing. work with FM Global andHe also helped RCI with Underwriters Laboratoriescurriculum development and on fire-rated roof systems. had taught at the University In 1972, Dick foundof Wisconsins Roofing time to complete hisSeminars. In addition, he Masters Degree in Physicalwrote almost 200 columns Chemistry, graduating fromfor Buildings.com, an online Rutgers University justmagazine of the construction weeks before relocating withindustry.JM Research to Denver,Dick received numerous Colorado. industry awards and Dick helped JM developrecognition in addition to and present programs for JMs Built-up Roofingthe MRCA McCawley Award. His contributions to the industry have been felt on an international level.www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer 27'