The Michigan Construction Hall of Fame welcomed four inductees during a formal ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014 at Ferris State University's Granger Center for Construction and HVACR on its Big Rapids campus.

Honoree John Bartos lives on the farm that's been in his family for 122 years. Born and raised in Midland, Mich. - the 10th of 15 children - John started his education in a one-room schoolhouse and was expected to continue his father's work as a farmer and carpenter. But John had aspirations for a career in the construction industry and he followed them.

John has retired as the president, CEO and founder of Midland-based Three Rivers Construction Corporation and JS&B Associates, and Texas Rivers Construction based in Freeport, Texas. He also founded Anatek, a forensic engineering firm in 1981, Point North Development in 1982, and Florida Rivers in 1983. He remains active in JS&B Associates, Larkin Pines and Midland Solar Applications.

John was inspired to further his education after approaching his high school assistant principal about his dream to be an engineer. When it was suggested that John's success in woodshop and the Future Farmers of America were indicative of a future in farming, he was motivated to do just the opposite.

After John graduated from high school, he attended Bay City Junior College (now Delta College) then went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Engineering from Michigan State University and a master's degree from Stanford University. He worked as a carpenter while in college and for the Dow Chemical Company in Midland during the summer to pay for tuition.

"When I got out of Stanford, I went to (his assistant principal's house) and said 'I went a different route - here's my master's degree from Stanford.' He looked at me and (said) 'You didn't do what I told you to do, did you?'"

John became president of Collinson Construction Company from 1971 to 1976 and went on to found Three Rivers Construction in 1976 - which, in partnership with his wife, Sandy, grew to more than 400 employees just 10 years later - and Texas Rivers Construction in 1981. He eventually sold both companies to his employees. His clients have included Dow Chemical and Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. Three Rivers was chosen to build the Dow Diamond in Midland, home of the Great Lakes Loons minor league baseball team, the Class A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

John was a founding board member of MiTech in 2000 as well as the Associated Builders and Contractors Saginaw Valley Chapter in 1977. He helped start the Greater Michigan Construction Academy to promote vocational education and training. His service as chairman of the National Center for Construction Education and Research Training, in 1996, also is indicative of his support for construction education opportunities.

He was appointed by Michigan Gov. John Engler to serve on the Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Administration governing committee from 1993 to 1998. 

John's involvement in the community has been extensive and includes service on more than 25 state and local organizations, including as director of the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and the Entranceways Initiative Task Force of the Midland Area Community Foundation. He is past director of Comerica Bank, was chair of the Midland Community Celebration for Dow Chemical's 100th Anniversary and also served the Midland Center for the Arts, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, United Way and the Dow Community Advisory Panel.

John is on the boards of Mid-Michigan Medical Center, Mid-Michigan Innovation Center, Blue Water Angels, Midland Community Foundation and Midland Tomorrow, and is a trustee on the Midland Baseball Foundation. 

The Michigan Senate on Nov. 13 approved a road funding bill that phases in a gas tax change. The measure aims to inject an estimated additional $1 Billion annually into the state's roads budget.

The Legislature is currently in recess until December 2. House Republicans are expected to take up road funding and other issues in the Lame Duck session before the new legislature convenes in January.