North Carolina Aggregates Association inducts inaugural HOF class

John Bratton Jr.’s grandson, Al Parker (right), accepts the induction to the NCAA Hall of Fame on behalf of his grandfather. Also pictured is NCAA President Trent Sherrill of Wake Stone Corp. Photo courtesy of NCAA.

The North Carolina Aggregates Association (NCAA) inducted its inaugural Hall of Fame class during the association’s Annual Convention in Greenville, South Carolina.

The first inductees to the NCAA Hall of Fame are John Bratton Jr. of Wake Stone Corp.; W. Trent Ragland Jr. of Martin Marietta; and Nello L. Teer Jr. of Nello Teer Co., which is now Hanson Aggregates.

John Bratton Jr.

Bratton started Wake Stone Corp. in Knightdale, North Carolina, in 1970. Prior to opening his own business, Bratton served as an engineer at Superior Stone, which grew from two operations to more than 30 in the southeastern United States.

Bratton, who served as a lieutenant in the Marine Corps. during World War II, displayed ambition upon opening Wake Stone Corp. while supporting his wife and seven children. Wake Stone Corp. is now in its 50th year of operation and remains a family business with three of Bratton’s sons and three grandsons working for the company. Bratton served as president of NCAA from 1977 to 1978.

W. Trent Ragland Jr.

Ragland began his career in the aggregate industry at a pair of quarries in the summers of 1941 and 1942 before joining the Navy. Upon his return home in 1945, Ragland joined Superior Stone Co., whose founders included his father and uncle.

At age 33, Ragland was named president of Superior Stone. When the company was acquired by American-Marietta in 1959, Ragland was named the CEO of the division and was also elected to the board of directors. Two years later, the company merged with The Martin Co., becoming Martin Marietta.

Ragland remained as president of Martin Marietta Aggregates’ Southeast Division. He was later named senior vice president, and he served as NCAA president from 1975 to 1977.

Nello L. Teer Jr.

Teer served as president of the Nello L. Teer Co., which was established by his father, playing an integral role in expanding the company within both local and international markets, including Central America and Africa. Teer served as president of NCAA, and he held the highest offices within the American Road Builders Association, the International Road Federation and the Associated General Contractors of America.

During his time at Nello L. Teer Co., Teer oversaw excavation of the University of North Carolina‘s Kenan Stadium, site preparation for much of Duke University, Raleigh-Durham Airport, Blue Ridge Parkway, the Marine Corps. Air Station at Cherry Point, and other jobs. Today, Nello L. Teer’s North Carolina sites are part of Hanson Aggregates.