December 2024 Vol. 79 No. 12
Features
HDD Reunion, Hall of Fame celebration comes to Houston
For the first time, the famous Horizontal Directional Drilling Reunion will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on March 5, 2025, in conjunction with the annual Underground Infrastructure Conference.
Also featured during the HDD Reunion will be the formal induction of the Class of 2025 into the HDD Hall of Fame.
This’s year reunion will again allow the many veterans and new participants in the remarkable HDD industry to celebrate the technology that has forever changed the way utilities and pipelines are installed. When HDD spread across the underground construction landscape in the late 1980s and 1990s, it was obvious that this disruptive technology was setting a new direction in construction, becoming an established, essential technology for all underground utility and pipeline markets.
Underground Infrastructure (UI) magazine and the Horizontal Directional Drilling Association (HDDA) are the primary sponsors of both the reunion and hall of fame. The HDDA is a technology-focused association dedicated to the growth, professionalism and safe practices of HDD. UI is the leading publication for construction, rehabilitation and asset management of the underground infrastructure.
This highly anticipated event provides a unique opportunity for drillers of all generations to reunite in the perfect environment for HDD networking, education and vision provided by UIC (formerly UCT). The show has always been the primary event to support, embrace, educate and share vital information for drillers of all ages, job levels and company sizes and continues that role today.
In addition to the reunion and hall of fame, Underground Infrastructure and the HDDA have partnered to develop powerful education sessions, training and networking program from March 4 to 6. Following the HDD Reunion/Hall of Fame Induction on March 5, HDDA plans to continue the networking celebration with a dinner that night then continue with an education and training workshop the morning of March 6.
Those new to the industry will find the information and knowledge they gain extremely useful in their current jobs. The event encompasses all those who have participated in the industry throughout the years including contractors, owners, engineers and manufacturers no matter the rig size, from jumbo to mini units.
To attend UIC and/or register for the HDD Reunion, please go to UI-Conference.com. If your company would like to participate as a sponsor for the HDD Reunion and Hall of Fame, contact Josh Allen at josh@undergroundinfrastructure.com, (832) 922-9018 or Karen Francis, karen@undergroundinfrastructure.com. To participate in the HDDA activities, go to hdda.us.
HED: HDD Legends to be Inducted into Hall of Fame
The HDD Hall of Fame Class of 20254 will be honored at the Underground Infrastructure Conference March 4-6 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas.
The celebration is sponsored by the Horizontal Directional Drilling Association and Underground Construction magazine.
The HDD Hall of Fame nominating committee named five people to the Class of 2025. Representing the general – under 100,000 pounds of pullback – category are:
- Peter Hambling, Digital Control Inc.
- John Mercer, Digital Control Inc.
- Bryan Tucker, Online Directional
Rigs over 100,000 pounds of pullback are represented by:
- Grady Bell, Bell Trenchless
- Vernon Harris, Ranger Directional Drilling.
Posthumous Honorees:
- Bob Rankin, AdTech
- Frank Forest, Sharewell
- Monty Scruggs, Isaacks Directional Drilling
- Gene Carpenter, Horizontal Rig & Equipment
HED: HDD Reunion, Hall of Fame Schedule at UIC
Tuesday, March 4
- HDD Educational Program, 8 to 10:30 a.m., 1:30 – 3 p.m.
- Exhibits open, 10:30 – 1:30 p.m., 3 – 5 p.m.
Wednesday, March 5
- HDD Educational Program, 8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., 1:30 – 3 p.m.
- HDD Large Rig Contractors Roundtable, 8 – 9 a.m.
- HDD Small Rig Contractors Roundtable, 9 – 10 a.m.
- HDD Hall of Fame Conversations, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
- HDD Reunion, 5:15 – 6:45 p.m., and includes formal induction of the 2025 HDD Hall of Fame Honorees
- HDDA Spring Meeting dinner, 7 – 10 p.m.
Thursday, March 21
- HDDA Educational Presentations, 8 – 10:30 a.m.
- Exhibits open, 9 a.m. – noon.
For more information, visit UI-Conference.com. or contact Karen Francis, karen@undergroundinfrastructure.com. To register for the HDDA dinner and education/training sessions, go to HDDA.us.
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