Fairfield’s McDowell honored by concrete association

Fairfield resident Randy McDowell was honored with a Lifetime Membership to the Iowa Ready Mix Concrete Association (IRMCA) at its annual meeting on Feb. 28, 2022 in Des Moines. Over a career spanning five decades, Randy has worked for both producers and state entities.

Randy started his career working for the Iowa Highway Commission from June 1971 until 1977 when the commission was looking to have a “reduction in labor forces.” At that time, he went to work for Sherman Smith and Associates, where he was a quality control person, testing concrete, soil and aggregates. After five years, he took the next step in his career, taking on a quality control position for Ideal Ready Mix Company, Inc. for the Burlington and newly purchased Keokuk areas.

He worked for Ideal in a variety of roles, including plant manager and area manager until 1994 when he once again made a change in his career path to work for himself and Douds Stone.

Randy worked for the Iowa Department of Transportation before returning to work for Ideal Ready Mix Company, Inc. as the Fairfield area manager in 2000.

Visions of warmer weather year-round called him to Arizona in 2007 when he went to work for a local producer only to be drawn back to Iowa to be closer to his new grandson. In 2008, he returned to Ideal Ready Mix Company, Inc. as the Burlington area manager, retiring in 2019.

Throughout Randy’s career, he showed great passion for concrete and the construction industry. He served as the president of IRMCA in 2015, was on several of the committees throughout the years, was heavily involved in Southeast Iowa Builders Association and donated many hours of time to help raise money for scholarships, continuing to build the next generation of leaders for the Concrete State.

He has had a very positive influence on his industry and community and the IRMCA is proud of Randy’s accomplishments, and feel he is deserving of this award.