2026 Hall of Fame Inductees

William B. Dougherty

Bill Dougherty began his career just out of high school, learning the paving industry by first working as a shovel man and then as a roller operator. He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Notre Dame and followed his education by serving in the United States Air Force Reserve. Bill became a licensed professional engineer and land surveyor and worked as an engineer with the Indiana State Road Department, Florida Department of Transportation, and in private industry as a sales engineer. After two generations of his family being engaged in the struggling retail coal industry, in 1960 Bill joined his father and brother in their fledging asphalt business. Bill oversaw the growth of Louisville Paving Company from 20 employees to its current 650 employees. During his career Bill acquired 8 asphalt plants, improvising their designs and fabricating components to improve their performance. Under Bill’s leadership the company branched out into grade and drain, concrete, general contracting, and trucking. He saw a market for breaking concrete, and for many years the company traveled the Southeast breaking concrete for other contractors.

During his 65-year career of building roads, bridges, and treatment plants across Kentucky, Bill
has also served in many professional organizations. He was president of the Associated General
Contractors of Louisville and the Plant Mix Asphalt Industry of Kentucky (PAIKY). In 2011, he received the University of Kentucky Department of Civil Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award. Bill is a lifelong member of six industry organizations. He still drives to the office most days and assists his son and grandson in a legacy company now in its fifth generation.