Davis Henry attended a banquet for the Brick Industry Association earlier this month having no idea he would be walking away as the recipient of this year’s BIA Volunteer of the Year.

Henry, the president of Henry Brick in Selma, was honored at the banquet and surprised to learn that he had been picked as the winner of the award.

“It’s very much appreciated to know [my] efforts matter and that people take notice of what [I] do,” Henry said. “We participate as a company in a lot of things. We’ve always learned and felt it was important to give back to the community, so we try to do what we can locally here to help and just be involved.”

The award is described as recognizing a member that goes above and beyond in devoting their time, experience, expertise and energy to helping the Brick Industry Association promote and safeguard the clay brick industry.

Henry and Henry Brick are members of several brick organizations across the southeast and nationally, and he serves on several boards and committees. He has traveled to Washington DC to testify on Capitol Hill on behalf of the industry for regulatory relief.

“It’s something we can help try to achieve change for us on the national level as our voice in Washington and our lobbying efforts to avoid over regulation, that’s our voice … especially as a small company,” Henry said. “The brick industry is very important to us as a small company.”

But it’s not just in the brick world that Henry gives back. He’s also loyal to his community serving on local boards and participating in various fundraisers and charitable organizations.

Henry owns the business with three other third-generation family members.

“Volunteering is very important. I think my dad, Ted [Henry] and uncle, Art Gleason, both instilled in all of us how important it was to give back to the community and be involved,” Henry said. “I think it takes a community to make a community better, and we all have to be involved in any way we can and try to make our world a better place.”

Henry said he believes his father would be proud of him for receiving the award.

“He’d be very proud. Dad was in the brick business for [50] years and really loved the business and loved the industry and I think we got our appreciation and love of the industry through dad and Art,” he said.

“You learn quickly what [difference] your involvement makes and that you can make a difference. It’s special to be able to continue to be involved in the community and still have a small business here in Selma that we can use as a tool to help the community. It’s so important, and having learned it from dad, I realized how important just the little things are.”