George M. Bragg, long-time President of Bragg Crane Service, Long Beach, Calif., was the posthumous recipient of the Golden Achievement Award during the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) Annual Conference, April 21-25, at La Quinta Resort, La Quinta, Calif. He passed away on March 28, 2009.

“George Bragg has made countless industry contributions throughout the country and abroad. His contributions to SC&RA are extensive,” said Randy Goddard, SC&RA Chairman. “The winner has been known as a tough negotiator, a stickler to details, and a very successful individual in his business and, more importantly, with his family, friends and colleagues…No matter what he did or where he went in business or life, he earned and commanded respect and treated all those who know him with the same degree of courtesy and respect.”

George Bragg was active in the crane & rigging and specialized transportation industry for over 40 years. He rose through the ranks at the Association from Chair of the Crane & Rigging Group to become SC&RA Chairman for 1990-91. In recent years, he had been active on the Association’s Board of Directors, the Insurance Committee and the EN13000 Task Force. Mr. Bragg was also a very active leader with the Southern California Crane Owner’s Association and a very active contributor to his home community in Santa Ana.

Austin Essary

In 2017 the Austin Essary Foundation began a memorial in memory of son and brother Austin. Austin Essary took his own life less than one week prior to his 17th birthday. He struggled in school and felt his future was bleak even though he excelled at mechanics and welding. Had Austin had the opportunity to attend a Lift & Move event (liftandmoveusa.scr-foundation.org) or even talk to anyone in the heavy haul or crane & rigging industry, he might still be here today. Mr. and Mrs. Essary formed a Foundation in his memory with the purpose of giving hope to other students who need encouragement and opportunity in non-traditional career paths. The Essary Memorial Grant will be awarded to an individual who has attended a Lift & Move event.  For more information on the events click here.

Peacefully and surrounded by his loving family, Jay Kendall Shiffler passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2019. He was 67.

Jay was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 19, 1952, to John Kendall Shiffler and Marjorie May King, the second of three fun-loving children, Cathy, Jay and Connie. After the passing of their mother, John married Carolyn Shiffler, and the family expanded to include two more wonderful sisters, Kathryn and Tricia.

Jay graduated from Columbus High School, honorably served his country in the U.S. Army and earned a business degree from the University of Cincinnati. Upon graduation he started a long and storied career in the construction equipment business.

Shortly after being transferred to Dallas, TX, he met the love of his life, D.Ann Slayton. Married February 19, 1983, they lived what many would call a fairy tale life. The two shared a love that was an inspiration to everyone. From scuba diving in the British Virgin Islands as newlyweds to carting their daughters to Europe, Mexico and across the country, there was no adventure too big or too daunting if they were together. He wanted all three of his girls to see the world; he embraced trips and vacations that involved seeing new places, learning interesting things, eating different foods and above all making memories.

Jay and D.Ann’s biggest adventure was raising their two daughters, Kendall and Bailey, who Jay loved with his whole heart. Being a father was Jay’s proudest accomplishment. He told stories of his wife and daughters to his colleagues, his friends and to strangers on airplanes. Nothing gave him greater joy than being under one roof with his daughters and later their husbands. Of his sons-in-law Brett Larson and Andrew Guinn, he was often heard saying, “We won the son-in-law lottery.”

While Jay worked to live, his career was a passion. He believed in the people he worked with and the products he sold. Jay was the consummate networker, and it was never just professional – it was always personal. Jay truly loved the construction equipment and crane industry and the many relationships he forged along the way. Jay had a cadre of best friends in the industry and he was a mentor to many.

The Foundation joins SC&RA and the industry at large in mourning the loss of Jay Shiffler who passed Thursday, December 26, 2019. Friends and colleagues have made donations to support the memorial award.

If you would like to make a donation in memory of Jay Shiffler, select the Tribute button on the form below and indicate Jay Shiffler.

George was the Senior Advisor at George Young Mammoet located in Swedesboro, NJ. George and his company had been a member of SC&RA since 1964. His experience with the association was extensive – serving on the Crane & Rigging Group and the Allied Industries Group, the Crane & Rigging Tower Crane Committee, Editorial Advisory Committee, and Magazine Task Force.

He had also served on numerous SC&R Foundation Committees and was elected to both the SC&RA and SC&R Foundation Board of Directors where he served as Treasurer.

George also was elected to the SC&RA executive committee where he reached the highest volunteer position at SC&RA, serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2004-2005. By way of this honor, George had served on the Association’s nominating committee and strategic planning committee.  George was currently serving on the Board of Directors as a past Chair, on the Past Chairman’s Council, and was the current Chair of the Association’s Insurance and Risk Management Committee.

If you would like to make a donation on behalf of George Young, select the Tribute button on the form below and indicate George Young.

Thank you for the generous donations in memory of George Young. A George Young Memorial Scholarship will begin in 2019.

• Bay Crane Service Inc.
• Bracken Family
• Eastern MIllwright Regional Council
• Ernest D Menold, Inc.
• Frank V. Radomski & Sons, Inc.
• George Young Mammoet
• Independence Advisors, LLC
• JWECS LLC
• Keen Transport, Inc.
• Liberty Technology Solutions
• Mark and Meredith Dornenburg Charitable Fund
• Matcom Industrial Installations
• Mid Atlantic Construction Safety Council
• NationsBuilders Insurance Services Inc (NBIS)
• NCCCO
• Northeast Millwrights Association
• Agnes, Inc.
• Rigging Gear Sales, Inc.
• Sheedy Drayage Co.
• Stephen Izzi Trucking & Rigging, Inc.
• Trans American Trucking & Warehouse
• Union Electric Contracting Company
• Brigid Flanagan
• Mary Ellen Lorenz
• Elizabeth Natale
• Haverstick-Borthwick
• Helen D Eckler
• Patricia King
• Ps Pasquariello Iii
• Daniel J Rhoads Jr.
• C S Strickler Jr
• Susan Wilkinson And David Axt
• Elizabeth Wilson

Douglas Allen Ball, 77 of St. James, NC passed away unexpectedly on March 16th, 2021 from a catastrophic stroke.