Astec founder Dr Don Brock dies

Dr J Don Brock, chairman and former CEO of Astec Industries has died following a battle with cancer. He was 76.

Dr Brock and four others founded Astec in1972. Today the company has annual revenues of nearly US$ 1 billion, with 18 subsidiaries in the US and abraod. In addition to the Astec range of batching plants, the company manufactures equipment under the Roadtec, Breaker Technology, Telsmith and Kolberg-Pioneer brands, among many others.

Dr Brock held some 100 US and foreign patents on construction machinery and drying equipment. He was a recipient of numerous awards including “Man of the Year”, (National Asphalt Pavement Association), “Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni”, (The Georgia Institute of Technology), “Dougherty Award”, (The University of Tennessee), the “ARTBA Top 100 Private Sector Transportation Construction Professionals of the 20th Century”, and the “Dr. J. Don Brock Transovation Award”, (American Road and Transportation Builders Association).

He was diagnosed with mesothelioma, the cancer linked to exposure to asbestos, in 2012.

Dr Brock’s son, Ben Brock, is president and CEO of Astec Industries.