As he prepares to hand over the reins of his business to his son, Jerry Reicks Jr. is reflecting on a remarkable career. The veteran contractor has been named the recipient of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry’s (AWCI) 2026 Distinguished Service Award—an honor he initially thought was a mistake.

“It came totally out of the blue at a special time in my life as I close in on retirement,” Reicks says. To be mentioned alongside past industry titans, he notes, is a profound privilege.

Over a career spanning roughly five decades, Reicks has left an indelible mark on the drywall and construction industry. He spent six years on the AWCI Board of Directors and eight years on the AWCI Industry Awards Committee—four of those as chair. He also credits much of his business acumen to more than two decades of participation in Business Forum Group 2, a contractor peer group that fosters invaluable networking, shared insights, and operational success.

Reicks’ path into construction wasn’t a straight line. After graduating with a double major in biology and psychology, he briefly worked in psychiatric social work. Finding the starting wages too low to support a future family, he pivoted to drywall, working for his father. What started as a practical financial decision blossomed into a lifelong passion. Driven by a relentless work ethic, Reicks even went back to school during the pandemic at age 65 to earn a master’s degree in business management.

Beyond his contributions to the AWCI and Tri-State, Reicks built an impressive second chapter as an international wrestling official. Starting out because local meets needed referees, his commitment propelled him to the highest officiating tier in the United States and the second highest globally. For over a decade, he traveled with U.S. wrestling teams to 18 countries, officiating Greco-Roman and Freestyle matches.

“Officiating, for me, was like anything I did,” Reicks reflects. “I tried to do the best I could. When I commit to anything I don’t quit. It has been the same for me in drywall: I always wanted to be the best I could be.”

Today, as his son Jerome steps up to lead Tri-State, Reicks remains active, tackling projects like the adaptive reuse of the historic Wetmore Building in his hometown of Sioux City, Iowa. From shaping national industry standards and mentoring young professionals to refereeing on the world stage, Reicks’ legacy is cemented by a single guiding philosophy: always striving for excellence.