The prestigious International Code Council Bobby J. Fowler Award was presented today to Sam W Francis, retired Senior Director of National Programs for the American Wood Council (AWC).

“Sam’s unique combination of knowledge, humor, and respect for others has resulted in code provisions that are founded in common sense,” said AWC Vice President of Codes & Regulations Kenneth Bland. “His approach to code development has been to seek meaningful change, which doesn’t lose sight of building officials or public safety.”

After nearly 20 years as a building official with the City of Dayton, Ohio, Sam worked for AWC for 24 years in various roles. He has taught extensively on subjects closely related to codes and code development throughout the United States and Canada. He is the author of numerous articles and publications on various building regulation subjects. 

The award is named for ICC’s first chairman, who was instrumental is merging the three legacy code organizations into what is now ICC. It is presented each year to an individual who has dedicated their career to advancing the goals of ICC with “integrity, professionalism, and compassion,” and is the highest honor bestowed by the organization.

About

The American Wood Council (AWC) is the voice of North American wood products manufacturing, an industry that provides almost 450,000 men and women in the United States with family-wage jobs. AWC represents 86 percent of the structural wood products industry, and members make products that are essential to everyday life from a renewable resource that absorbs and sequesters carbon. Staff experts develop state-of-the-art engineering data, technology, and standards for wood products to assure their safe and efficient design, as well as provide information on wood design, green building, and environmental regulations. AWC also advocates for balanced government policies that affect wood products.

www.awc.org