Dive summary:

• Stephen P. Byrne, who helped shape the Construction Sciences Department at Texas A&M University, died this month at the age of 59 from complications that stemmed from earlier back surgery.
• Byrne believed contractors and the industry generally benefited from having construction professionals receive certification in their trade.
• He held contractor certification himself and also was executive director of the university's Construction Industry Advisory Council while working on a Ph.D. degree from the department where he received his bachelor's degree in 1975.

From the article:

"Steve was clearly dedicated in his efforts to promote the professional constructor," says Andrew Wasiniak, an assistant vice president at Michigan contractor Walbridge....