At ceremonies conducted on October 16, 2008, two longtime MITA members, the late Joseph Dunigan Sr., and James Klett were awarded the “Distinguished Constructor Award” and inducted into the Michigan Construction Hall of Fame.
The Distinguished Constructor Award was established to formally recognize the significant achievements made by individuals to the Michigan construction industry. A Distinguished Constructor is someone who has left a lifelong mark on the industry and community through exemplary professional achievement and generous community involvement.
Joe Dunigan, of Dunigan Bros., Inc., began his career in the construction industry after serving in WW II. The company he began with his brothers has been a leader in underground construction since 1945. Joe was instrumental in the formation of the Association of Underground Contractors and served as its president in 1982 and 1983. Joe was very supportive and involved in the formation of Miss Dig program, which coincidently recognized Dunigan Bros. in 1982 for placing the two-millionth call to the Miss Dig system. Joe maintained a strong and immeasurable dedication to the Catholic community in the Jackson area, and served as a long-standing board member of W.A. Foote Memorial Hospital. Dunigan Bros. remains a family-operated business now run by Joe’s seven sons that also employs seven of Joe’s grandsons.
Jim Klett, president and CEO of Klett Construction, joined the family business in the early-70s after a two-year stint in the Army and earning a master’s degree in business from Western Michigan University. Since then, Jim has grown and established Klett Construction as a premier and exclusive asphalt construction company that mines its own aggregates and operates three hot-mix plants in southwest Michigan. An active voice in the construction industry, Jim has served as past president of both the Michigan Road Builders Association and the Asphalt Pavement Association of Michigan. A longtime advocate for construction education, Jim is the current chair of the College of Technology’s Construction Technology and Management Advisory Committee at Ferris State University. In recognition of his significant financial contributions and his tireless dedication to construction education, Ferris State University officially dedicated the Klett Family Materials Laboratory in Jim’s honor. Most recently, Jim received an honorary doctoral degree from Ferris State University in 2006.
In addition to Dunigan and Klett, the exemplary careers of Roy Rewold, and the late John Rakolta Sr. were also celebrated at the October 16th ceremony as recipients of the Distinguished Constructor Award and induction into the Michigan Construction Hall of Fame.
A panel of construction industry professionals representing MITA, the Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan, the Associated General Contractors of Michigan, the Construction Association of Michigan, the Michigan Association of Home Builders, and the College of Technology, Ferris State University selects the Distinguished Constructor Award recipients annually.
The Michigan Construction Hall of Fame is permanently housed in the Granger Center for Construction and HVACR on the Ferris State University campus. Off campus visitors can view the Hall of Fame and read the stories of all the Distinguished Constructor Award recipients at www.ferris.edu/MCHOF.
If you have any questions or comments, or you would like to submit a candidate for consideration for a future Distinguished Constructor Award, contact Glenn Bukoski, vice president of engineering services at glennbukoski@mi-ita.com or by phone at (517) 347-8336.
