At the Metal Construction Association’s winter meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Jan. 30, Dick Bus received the first-ever MCA Lifetime Achievement Award. He was surrounded by family and friends during the awards ceremony, and many shared their thoughts about him and his impact on the industry throughout his career.

The new MCA award, which will be known in the future as the Dick Bus Lifetime Achievement Award, was created to recognize an individual’s lifetime contributions and accomplishments to the association and metal construction industry.

Bus is the president of ATAS International and has served on MCA’s board for 18 years, including as board chair from 2007 to 2009 and as vice chair for two years prior to that. Bus helped to create the Metal Roofing Alliance and served as president of the MRA for many years before recently stepping down from that role. His involvement in the MRA contributed to the growth of the U.S. and Canadian residential metal roofing industry.

The MCA Lifetime Achievement Award is just one of numerous industry and community accolades he has received over the years. In 2013, he was inducted into the Metal Roofing Hall of Fame. Bus received the Good Scout Award in 2016 from the Boy Scouts of America for resurrecting Troop 150 in Orefield, Pennsylvania, from 1994 to 2004, and for his continued support of the Boy Scouts. In 2017, he received the MCA Triumph Award. Bus received a Lehigh Valley Business Journal Icon Honors award in 2021. The award recognizes Greater Lehigh Valley business leaders for their notable success and demonstration of strong leadership both within and outside of their chosen fields. The award not only celebrates the recipients’ leadership skills, but also their dedication to their community. This year, he was named as one of the “Power 100” by the Lehigh Valley Business Journal, honoring local leaders who have shaped the community and influenced the quality of life in the region. Locally, Bus serves on the boards of the Da Vinci Science Center and the Manufacturers Resource Center.

Photo courtesy of ATAS International

“As a member of the ATAS team for 40 years, it has been amazing for me to witness Dick’s unwavering support for industry association involvement, not only for himself, but all members of the ATAS organization,” stated Jim Bush, vice president of sales and marketing at ATAS and immediate past chair of the MCA. “His commitment extends beyond just monetary support of being a member, as he encourages team members’ involvement in the activities of those organizations. Beyond industry associations, Dick is also generous in his support of local charities and initiatives. The creation of this new MCA award in his honor is well-justified and should be an honor for those who receive it in the future.”