70 years ago a small group of dedicated tile contractors in sev- eral southern states formulated and organized the Southern Tile Contractors Association (STCA). This year, we proudly celebrate this anniversary with a look back at how the world and our association has changed over the past seven decades. This section is dedicated to all of our staff and volunteer leaders, as well as industry partners and supporters of the association who have at one time or another made a significant contribution to our continued growth. The ‘50s “America at this moment,” said the former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1945, “stands at the summit of the world.” During the 1950s, it was easy to see what Churchill meant. The United States was the world’s stron- gest military power. Its economy was booming, and the fruits of this Southern Tile Contractors Association (STCA) established Homer Panter first STCA executive director 1959 Jim Trimm becomes executive director TileLetter launches STTMCA’s annual conventions were only expositions of tile and stone The association changes its name to the Association of Tile, Terrazzo, Marble Contractors and Affiliates (ATTMCA) First STCA board meeting Brownie Brownell first STCA president Association becomes the Southern Tile, Terrazzo and Marble Contractors Association (STTMCA) Joe Tarver becomes STTMCA execu- tive director; Myra Caldwell produces TileLetter Education becomes a main component of the STTMCA mission 1947 1948 1959 1960s 1970s 1985 1948 1957 1960s 1972 1970s 7 0 years of NTCA By Bart Bettiga, with Lesley Goddin First board of directors of the Southern Tile Contractors Association (STCA) in 1948 at its first annual meeting in Birmingham, Ala. That annual meeting evolved into Total Solutions Plus. 78 TileLetter | September 2017