Vulcan Materials Co. led several categories in Fortune magazine’s "America’s Most Admired Companies" list in the publication’s March 4, 2002 issue. Vulcan ranked first in its industry category and ranked among the top 10 companies in the United States for social responsibility and use of corporate assets.

To compile its "Most Admired Companies" industry rankings list, Fortune identified the 10 largest companies by revenues in 58 industries, including large subsidiaries of foreign-owned companies. It then asked 10,000 executives, directors and securities analysts to rate the companies of their own industries in eight separate categories.

The eight criteria include: innovation, financial soundness, employee talent, use of corporate assets, long-term investment value, social responsibility, quality of management and quality of products and services. Within its industry group, Vulcan was rated number one in all eight categories.

"We are dedicated to making sound investments for ensuring our company’s future growth, while also operating in a socially responsible manner," says Donald M. James, Vulcan’s chairman and CEO. "Our high rankings on Fortune’s list indicate that our efforts have placed us on the right track for future success for our company, customers and communities."

The other companies among the top 10 in Fortune’s social responsibility category were the New York Times, Target, Proctor and Gamble, Union Pacific, American Express, Steelcase, Eastman Kodak, United Parcel Service and McDonalds. In the use of corporate assets category, Vulcan joined Berkshire Hathaway, Walgreen, Fifth Third Bancorp, Citigroup, General Electric, Union Pacific, Exxon Mobil, Wal-Mart and Liz Claiborne in the top 10.