The dramatic rise of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) began in 1950 when seven contractors gathered in Baltimore, Md. to create an association based on the shared belief that construction projects should be awarded on merit to the most qualified and responsible low bidders.
The courage and dedication of those seven contractors - Charles Mullan, C.K. Wells, Jr., Philip Cloyes, Ernest Shultz, Edward Colwill, Charles Knott and Edward Dickinson - helped to quickly spread the merit shop philosophy, within time making ABC the fastest growing association in the United States.
Throughout its history, ABC has fought for free enterprise and open competition in the U.S. construction industry. Today, ABC is the voice of the U.S. construction industry with the White House, Congress, federal agencies, state and local governments, the courts as well as with the news media. Fortune magazine ranks ABC as one of the 50 most influential organizations in the nation today.
Over the years, the vision of the seven ABC founders has been realized in the creation and development of a major national association. ABC now represents 23,000 merit shop contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers and related firms with nearly 2 million employees in 75 chapters across the United States. ABC's membership represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry and is comprised primarily of companies that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors of the industry.
Below you will find a news story from ABC's 50th anniversary in 2000 that goes into more detail about ABC's history as an organization.
To download the article
1. Right mouse click on the link.
2. Select "Save Target As".
3. Save the document to your local drive.
50 Years to Freedom (PDF)
