Max Bowman Presented the 2021 Build Iowa Award
The Build Iowa Award is the most prestigious award given by the Master Builders of Iowa as indicated by those who have been awarded this great distinction. Past recipients of The Build Iowa Award have proven to be leaders in Iowa’s commercial construction industry and have played significant roles in building structures that grow Iowa’s economy and spur economic opportunities. Since its inception in 1989 there have been 34 individuals bestowed with this award, all of whom are leaders of not only MBI, but Iowa’s construction industry and the communities in which they do business.
There have been only two other occasions in which the Build Iowa Award honor has been awarded posthumously. As difficult as it can be for those close to this year’s honoree, it is important that we celebrate the mark he made on MBI and the industry. This year’s award recipient, Max Bowman is a testament to what hard work can accomplish and a passion for building lasting relationships can achieve. He started his company Star Equipment, Ltd. in 1968 on the basis of providing high-quality, labor-saving tools, all at a fair price. Ever since the start, his focus - and that of the company - has been serving the customer and creating strong bonds.
Max has a history with MBI that spans decades. He was a true believer in the power of an association. He was personally involved in MBI and he made sure others within his company were also. It this type of leadership and commitment that contributes to the overall success of MBI and its role in advocating for Iowa’s commercial construction industry.
A segment from his obituary pretty much captures his commitment to service and his zeal for bringing innovation and labor-saving tools to job sites throughout Iowa. It reads –
"Max was a pioneer in his own right for the construction industry bringing many new and innovative products to the construction industry in Iowa. Max brought skid loaders to contractors and farmers in the late 60’s, construction lasers to the sewer and general contractors in the 70’s, concrete pumps in the late 70’s and early 80’s and telehandlers in the 80’s."
Other areas of involvement specific to the construction industry include not only serving on various boards and committees for MBI, but also participating in similar roles for the Associated General Contractors of Iowa; the Associated Equipment Distributors; the Iowa Nebraska Equipment Dealers; the Iowa Concrete Paving Association: the National Utility Contractors Association of Iowa; the Land Improvement Contractors of Iowa; the Asphalt Paving Association of Iowa; the American Concrete Pumping Association; the Iowa Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors; Masonry Institute of Iowa and countless other groups who were in one way or another involved in construction.
Beyond his industry involvement, this year’s recipient also gave back through his support of the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation; Iowa State University; Shriners Hospitals for Children; and The Masonic Lodge. He was a Freemason and enjoyed working with his colleagues at the King David Lodge #407 in Altoona. He was also a member of the Za-Ga-Zig Shriners and the Scottish Rite.
As mentioned earlier, our recipient started his business over 50 years ago, and with a career spanning that many years, it should come as no surprise that he and his company were involved in hundreds, if not thousands of projects throughout Iowa and the Midwest. However, there are obviously few that stick out. For instance, he worked with The Weitz Company on the Iowa Historical Building in the first concrete pumping job in Iowa that utilized a separate placing boom. Back in the 1970’s, he partnered with Abild Construction and started the revolution of riding concrete trowels, allowing more square footage to be poured and finished. At the same time, he helped to bring high volume concrete pumping to Iowa, changing the way concrete is placed.
The award was presented at the Build Iowa Award Dinner to the family of Max Bowman. Accepting the award were his three sons Brad, Bruce and Brett Bowman along with other members of his family.
Here is the video from the award’s presentation.