The Marble Institute of America (MIA) has bestowed Terry O’Neill (Columbia Marble Co., Pittsburgh, PA) with its 2009 Migliore Award for Lifetime Achievement.

“Throughout the MIA’s 65-year history, there have been a handful of times when one could look back and say, there would be no MIA today if someone hadn’t committed critical time and energy to the association and the industry,” commented Gary Distelhorst, MIA’s executive vp. “During the mid-1990’s, the Marble Institute of America was struggling financially with a meager bank balance, and deeply in debt when Terry O’Neill stepped up to provide outstanding and brave leadership during some very trying times. His leadership was evident first and foremost in restoring the financial underpinning of the association.”

Described “as the right man at the right time” in the history of MIA, O’Neill served as vice president and president of the MIA during from 1995 to 1996. He also helped negotiate a merger of MIA’s Annual Convention and StonExpo. O’Neill credits his success on the fact that Columbia Marble Company was a “mom and pop” business where “hands-on” experience was vital in handling virtually any problems.

O’Neill received the award at MIA’s Annual Awards Luncheon at the recently held StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas in Las Vegas. The Migliore Award for Lifetime Achievement is named for the late Vincent Migliore, long-time technical director and the first winner of the award.