Allen Lancaster Receives Prestigious NRCA J.A. Piper Award

The National Roofing Contractors Association has announced T. Allen Lancaster Jr., vice president of Metalcrafts, as the 75th recipient of its annual J.A. Piper Award.

The award was presented during NRCA’s 135th Annual Convention held January 30 - February 3 in New Orleans. The J.A. Piper Award is the industry’s most prestigious honor, recognizing roofing professionals who have devoted constant outstanding service to NRCA and the roofing industry.

Lancaster was elected to NRCA’s board of directors in 1995 and served several terms, including as an NRCA director from 1995-98, 1999-2002, 2003-05 and 2007-09. He served as NRCA vice president from 2005-07, NRCA senior vice president from 2009-10 and NRCA president from 2010-11. Lancaster has been involved with several NRCA committees, including the Architectural Sheet Metal and Metal Roofing Committee, Manual Update Committee, Technical Education Committee and Technical Operations Committee. 

Lancaster has been involved in the roofing industry for decades. After graduating from Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, with a degree in science and building construction, Lancaster started working at Metalcrafts, a metal fabrication company founded by his father and uncles. In 1992, he, along with his father and brothers, negotiated with other family members to officially buy Metalcrafts. Lancaster became president of Metalcrafts in 1997 and has grown the company to more than 50 employees. In 2020, Joseph Lancaster took over as president of the company, and Allen Lancaster continues to work for Metalcrafts as vice president. Employees describe him as one of the most knowledgeable men in roofing who also is hardworking, focused and driven. 

“He has worked tirelessly for his business, his family and the roofing industry—serving in a myriad of roles at NRCA and regional associations,” said Nelson Braddy, founder of King of Texas Roofing Co. LP, Grand Prairie, when presenting the award. “He epitomizes what great people are — reliable, intelligent, trustworthy and always ready and willing to help. And the roofing industry has been lucky enough to benefit from his leadership and volunteerism.” 

First presented in 1948, the J.A. Piper Award is named for former NRCA President Joseph A. Piper, whose extraordinary efforts kept the association alive during the Great Depression.

Since 1886, the National Roofing Contractors Association has been the home for generations of entrepreneurial craftsmen and enterprises who shelter and protect America’s families and businesses and each other. Our vision is the recognition of our members as professionals and to unite the industry to that purpose. NRCA is one of the construction industry’s most respected trade associations and the voice of roofing professionals and leading authority in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy. It represents all segments of the roofing industry, including contractors; manufacturers; distributors; architects; consultants; engineers; building owners; and city, state and government agencies. For information about NRCA and its services and offerings, visit nrca.net.