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Professional Roofing: What is the most unusual roofing project you've performed?
McClure: The low-slope roof areas on The Georgia Dome. The 170-foot- (52-m-) high upper "ring beam" roof was in effect a 57,500-square-foot (5342-m²) gutter to catch the water coming off the 395,000-square-foot (36696-m²) cable-supported fabric roof provided by another subcontractor. Coordinating our flashing termination with the fabric roof was challenging. The lower 89,700-square-foot (8333-m²) section was a challenge because of difficult access and fast-track scheduling. Because the landscaping around the building was completed before our work was finished, we had to drop our debris into the buildings' interior through fan curb openings, take it down five levels and haul it out with all-terrain vehicles.

Why did you become a roofing contractor?
My degree was in architecture, but I left that occupation and was selling insurance. However, I wanted to move from Florida to Atlanta and felt I would probably return to architecture. I was looking for a construction-related job to pay the bills while I researched local architectural firms. My brother introduced me to an owner of a built-up roofing (BUR) company, who hired me as an estimator. The rest is history.

What do you consider a waste of time?
Filling out a survey or questionnaire.

What was your first roofing experience?
Running a BUR crew on a new JCPenney to learn the business. I used to drive myself and about eight men back and forth to the site in an old Ford station wagon.

What are your favorite items on your desk?
A gift from my son that reads "Dad, Thanks for being my biggest fan even when I strike out," as well as my family pictures.

What was your first job?
During the summer in college when Mimi and I were to be married, I worked as a laborer for a block mason on a shopping center project designed by my future father-in-law.

What is your favorite vacation?
Snow skiing with my kids, as well as my brother and his family. It is much like the Griswolds' family vacations.

What are your best and worst habits?
My best habit is my attention to any small detail that would affect our quality or profitability. My worst habit is expecting everyone else to be like me.

What is your biggest pet peeve?
People who do not return telephone calls.

If you could invite any three people to dinner (dead or alive), whom would you invite and why?
My dad, who died when I was 13 years old, because I miss him. King David and the apostle Paul because they struggled with the same things in life I do. I see them as regular people who knew that without the power of God, they could not live the kind of life that would be pleasing to him.

What is your favorite stress reliever?
Playing golf.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
Staying current on the latest insurance and government issues that could threaten our company's survival. I worry that one mistake could undo what many have worked for so long to build.

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I am a past president of the Georgia Roofing Contractors Association and served on NRCA's board of directors from 2001-04.

People would be surprised to know ...
I perform with a 50-voice men's barbershop chorus.