Harold G. Mays Receives Kentucky Transportation Hall of Fame Award

On Thursday, January 18, 2018 the Kentucky Transportation Center honored Harold G. Mays at the Kentuckians for Better Transportation (KBT) conference in Lexington, KY. The Kentucky Hall of Fame criteria is as follows: inductees shall be persons who by their foresight, dedication, leadership, perserverance, and integrity have significantly enjanced transportation systems in the Commonwealth. They shall be or shall have been residents of the Commonweatlh.

Harold G. Mays began his working career in 1960 after he graduated from the University of Kentucky. He started with the Kentucky Department of Highways in the Lexington District Division of Construction. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Mays transferred to the Division of Materials in Frankfort. In November 1964, at the age of 28, he was named the Director of the Division of Materials. He was integral part of a group that modernized and updated the Division of Materials policies, procedures, and staff to the level needed to handle the large volume of testing that was required for the completion of Kentucky’s interstates and parkways.

From 1969 until 1971, Harold was the Executive Director of the Kentucky Crushed Stone Association where he worked to secure reasonable regulations for the industry from the Air Pollution Commission and worked on flexible pavement design criteria that would give recognition of crushed stone’s value in pavement structure.

In 1971, he left the Kentucky Crushed Stone Association to join the firm of Harrod-Carter, a crushed stone and ready-mix concrete producer, and the Robert L. Carter Company, a hot mix asphalt producer and highway contract in Frankfort. In 1984, he purchased the company and later changed the name to the H.G. Mays Corporation. The company now has hot-mix asphalt plants in Frankfort, Maysville and Flemingsburg and also operates the Frankfort Testing Laboratory that specializes in asphalt and aggregate testing.

Harold has been a leader in the industry trade associations. He was Chairman of KAHC in 1992. He has served twice as the President of PAIKY (1989 and 2000) and was Chairman of the Kentucky Crushed Stone Association in 1979. He has served on national asphalt committees and has done his civic duty serving on the Board of Farmers Bank Corporation, the Frankfort YMCA, and as President of the Frankfort Country Club. He kept his ties to the University of Kentucky and is a University of Kentucky Fellow. He has received numerous awards from organizations, including the University of Kentucky Civil Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000.

Harold G. Mays has been immersed in the construction industry in Kentucky for over 50 years. He has contributed to advancements in infrastructure across the Commonwealth through the transportation cabinet, industry associations, and as a contractor. Throughout his long and successful career, Harold Mays has made a pronounced impact on the transportation system throughout Kentucky.

Congratulations Mr. Harold Mays on this wonderful accomplishment and your dedication to the industry!