All in the family: SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 contest lauds production and craftsmanship

Masonry Construction, June, 2004

When Bob Boll, Boll Masonry, Conifer, Colo., learned about the SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 competition from his younger brother, Mike, he was game. The spirit of friendly competition is not unknown between the two brothers, who are 19-years apart in age.

"Whenever I go back to Chicago, Mike always wants to race," said Boll. "I get a workout from him. I entered the competition because I wanted to see what I could do, being 50-years old."

Boll was not disappointed. He placed 765 brick in 60 minutes to win the 2nd annual contest, which was held in February during World of Masonry in Orlando (see related story, p. 18). Boll's efforts earned him about $10,000 in cash and prizes and a one-year hold on the title "Country's Best Bricklayer."

Having won the regional round in Chicago, Mike was among the 15 competitors Bob took on at the national event. "We were side-by-side, neck-and-neck until I had problems with one comer," said Bob Boll. "I had to take off some brick and relay them." That extra care paid off. Although Mike placed more than 800 brick, his wall had too many voids to qualify for the winner's circle.

The benchmark of the competition was Bob Boll's Guinness Book world record of 914 brick in one hour set in 1988 when he won the World Champion Brick Olympics in Wisconsin. "I think Mike was trying to beat the 914," said Boll.

Boll's 24-year-old son, Paul, was the tender on the winning team. Father and son trained together week after week in the Boll driveway, and when the weather turned cold, they practiced corners on a drop cloth in the front room of the house. "We started with 30 minute runs and some times laid over 400 brick in that time," said Boll.

Paul took it easy in the "Toughest Tender" warmup challenge to avoid mistakes that could hurt his dad's chances later during the competition. "He didn't want to go crazy and do something like setting the brick up backwards," Boll said. "I told him he was the best tender because we won."

Accordingly, Boll gave his son $2000 out of his own winnings, the equivalent of first prize in the tender contest. He didn't want to see Mike go home empty handed, either, so he gave him the table saw he won. That largesse doesn't mean he regrets beating out his brother, however.

"Mike will be coming back with a vengeance next year in Las Vegas," Boll chuckled, "but I'll be ready for him."