www.mrca.org  —  Midwest Roofer
4
MRCA’S LIVING HISTORY HIGHLIGHT:
HONORING THE LEGACY OF JAMES Q. MCCAWLEY
Rachel Pinkus, MR Magazine Editor
T
he Midwest Roofing 
Contractors Association 
(MRCA) has long 
recognized the leaders whose 
dedication and service have 
helped shape the roofing 
industry. 
Among 
its most 
prestigious honors is the James Q. 
McCawley Award, established in 
1969 to commemorate a man whose 
influence on roofing education, 
advocacy, and association leadership 
continues to be felt today.
Born in 1899 in Glasgow, Scotland, 
James Q. McCawley came from a 
family deeply rooted in the roofing 
profession. His passion for the 
industry and commitment to advancing 
professional standards became evident 
throughout his career. In 1939, 
McCawley assumed management 
of the National Roofing Contractors 
Association (NRCA), stepping into 
a leadership role that would leave a 
lasting mark on the organization and 
the roofing profession as a whole.
That same year, McCawley 
authored and published Roofing: 
Estimating, Applying, and Repairing, 
a groundbreaking textbook that 
became an important educational 
resource for roofing professionals. 
The book’s continued relevance led to 
the publication of a second edition in 
1959. Even while serving as Executive 
Secretary of NRCA, McCawley 
remained dedicated to education, 
teaching roofing, sheet metal work, 
and airplane drafting.
With borrowed capital, he launched 
National Roofer Magazine, providing 
a vital source of income that helped sustain the NRCA while 
creating an important publication for industry communication 
and education. In September 1951, McCawley was 
highlighted in National Roofer Magazine.
James Q. McCawley passed away in February 1969, just 
24 hours before departing for the NRCA Convention in 
Editors Message

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.