Placitas resident recognized for service in Vietnam and contributions to the construction industry

Placitas resident Neil Hise had an eventful month of March, receiving recognition for his service in Vietnam and his contributions to the construction industry.

Hise was honored by the Sandoval County Commission on March 13 along with a dozen other Vietnam veterans. He was also inducted into the Pit & Quarry Hall of Fame on March 24 in Nashville, one of four individuals to receive the prestigious honor.

Hise shared his experiences serving in Vietnam as a CBE (construction battalion equipment), recounting his job of fixing broken equipment and close calls during combat. He emphasized the value of life, reflecting on how it has changed over time.

““I was lucky. I was one of the luckiest guys on Earth,” Hise said. “My job over there as a CBE was to fix things that were broken. You just learned that life was very, very precious. And in the next moment you could be dead.”

Hise also spoke about his family's involvement in the construction industry, dating back to his father's work in highway construction after World War II.

“After World War II ended, my father came home from England where he had met my mother and went to work with his brother in highway construction,” Hise said. “My mother and I arrived in America in January 1947. I had the good fortune to grow up in construction camps alongside highway projects that were ongoing in the Wild West at that time.”

Pit & Quarry established its Hall of Fame in 2013 to pay tribute to the pioneers of the past, as well as present-day industry leaders. The Hall of Fame is composed of those who made significant contributions to the aggregate industry. Inventors, innovators, forward thinkers and leaders are among those who’ve been enshrined. Inductees were not only successful in their own businesses but gave of themselves to advance the greater industry.

Hise served as the second-generation owner and longtime president of Cemco, a manufacturer of vertical shaft impact crushers (VSIs) and other specialty equipment based in New Mexico. He explained how Cemco's VSI crusher, developed in the late 1960s, revolutionized the process of producing roadway material, leading to its widespread adoption in the industry. Despite facing challenges, Hise's dedication and innovative spirit contributed to Cemco's success and its impact on the aggregate processing, recycling and clean energy industries.

Reflecting on his induction into the Pit & Quarry Hall of Fame, Hise expressed humility and gratitude, highlighting the importance of the equipment Cemco developed in changing the way materials are processed. He also underscored the significance of infrastructure, such as highways and buildings, in modern society, emphasizing the hard work and dedication of people around the world striving to improve their lives and communities.

“The equipment we've built over our history, it has changed the way material is processed, and we were one of the first to come up with this type of crusher that was successful,” Hise said. “That's quite an honor. I am humbled by it.”