Robert Daly Jr. Receives Prestigious NRCA J.A. Piper Award

The National Roofing Contractors Association has announced Robert Daly Jr., president of Kaw Roofing & Sheet Metal, Kansas City, Kan., is the 76th recipient of its annual J.A. Piper Award.

The award was presented during NRCA’s 136th Annual Convention held March 6-9 in Dallas. The J.A. Piper Award is the industry’s most prestigious honor and recognizes roofing professionals who have devoted constant outstanding service to NRCA and the roofing industry. 

Daly is a third-generation roofing contractor who grew up working at his family’s company during summers and holidays. After attending a semester of junior college, he was drafted during the last draft of the Vietnam War and served two years in the U.S. Navy. 

After serving his country, Daly returned to college and graduated from Regis University, Denver, with degrees in business administration and economics. Following college graduation, he joined his father—who received the J.A. Piper Award in 1950—brothers and sister in the family business founded by his grandfather. 

After Daly’s father passed away, he and his brothers became co-owners of the company, and Daly joined the board of directors of his local association. In 1996, he was elected to NRCA’s board of directors and served as a director from 1996-99 and 2002-06. In 2000, he was elected as an NRCA vice president and served from 2000-02 and 2003-04. In 2006, Daly served as senior vice president before being elected as NRCA’s president in 2007. 

While president, Daly led the association through a strategic planning process and reached out to manufacturers and suppliers to include their voices. One of his most challenging tasks was guiding the organization through a difficult budget cycle during the Great Recession. Because of his professional leadership, NRCA made it through that challenging time proactively and responsibly. 

Daly also served on many NRCA committees and task forces, including the Associated Specialty Contractors, Energy Conservation and Environment, Government Relations, National Roofing Service Corporation and PAC Advisory committees. 

In addition to volunteering his time at NRCA, Daly served on the board of directors of the Associated Roofing Contractors of Greater Kansas City; The Builders—a chapter of the Associated General Contractors; and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association—Kansas City chapter before serving as president. 

Daly also served as secretary/treasurer of National Roofing Partners; has co-chaired the Joint Roofing Industry Labor and Management Committee of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers since 1989; has served on the Labor Negotiating Committee for Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council since 1993; and is a member of the Roofing Alliance. 

“He has integrity and strong dedication to the roofing industry,” said Allen Lancaster Jr., vice president of Metalcrafts, a Tecta America Company LLC, Savannah, Ga., when presenting the award. “He’s led a life of helping others—from small residential contractors to corporate manufacturers. He’s not afraid to take what he’s learned in business and life and share it with others so they may prosper. He’s reliable, intelligent, loyal, trustworthy and a good friend.” 

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.