Jim Gorrie has been a fan of the Atlanta Braves his entire life, but his involvement with the Major League Baseball team just got bigger.
Gorrie, 1984 building science alumnus of Auburn University, is president and CEO of Brasfield & Gorrie, one of four construction companies jointly named American Builders 2017, recently awarded the contract to build the new Braves stadium.
Barton Malow Company, New South Construction and Mortenson Construction are the other companies that make up American Builders 2017.
This group was formed to highlight each of the four companies' strengths. Brasfield & Gorrie took the lead position because of their large presence in Atlanta and Cobb County.
Gorrie graduated with New South Construction CEO Doug Davidson in spring 1984 and has always had "a tremendous amount of respect for [Davidson's] firm."
Gorrie, whose parents are Auburn alumni, grew up attending football games and said football Saturdays with his friends and family are one of his favorite memories of the Plains.
"Meeting my wife, Alison, our senior year was a highlight for sure," Gorrie said of his time in Auburn.
Gorrie and Alison met through mutual friends, after which Alison asked him to go to the Kappa Delta formal her senior year.
The couple has been married for 29 years and resides in Mountain Brook. They have two children, Mills, who attends Samford University, and Alie B., who attends Belmont University.
Gorrie was in Kappa Alpha Fraternity where he served as president and rush chairman. He was also an SGA senator and parliamentarian, member of the Builders Science Builder's Guild, Sigma Lambda Chi, Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa.
Spending time at the KA house was one of Gorrie's favorite activities to do during his years in Auburn.
He also frequented the BBQ House, Momma Goldberg's Deli, Guthrie's and Taco Casa; each meal followed by a trip to the Santa Freeze.
No matter the fun he had outside of class, Gorrie always came back to his schoolwork.
When Gorrie came to Auburn, he knew that building science was the degree for him.
"I enjoyed my senior thesis because it brought all of the pieces of my building science education together," Gorrie said. "I liked all my building science classes and teachers. We had great teachers. In fact, I talked Mark Taylor into becoming house dad for the KAs in 1983, and I'm not sure he has forgiven me for that."
Gorrie's father, M. Miller Gorrie, a 1957 Auburn alumnus, bought out the assets of the Thomas C. Brasfield Company in 1964 and subsequently renamed the company Brasfield & Gorrie.
The company is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
"It is all I have ever done or known," Gorrie said. "I never really considered anything else and have enjoyed working with my father and learning from some pretty special people."
Gorrie believes every job the company takes is special, but counts the Georgia Dome, the Kirklin Clinic in Birmingham and the M. Miller Gorrie Center in Auburn as a few of his favorites.
The M. Miller Gorrie Center was made possible through donations from Brasfield & Gorrie employees and was a named in honor of the Gorrie's father, chairman and founder of Brasfield and Gorrie.
"We surprised my father," Gorrie said. "Auburn officials were present one night at the Birmingham Country Club to spring the news on him."
Brasfield & Gorrie also completed the last renovation to Jordan-Hare in the mid-eighties.
Even though Brasfield & Gorrie recruits employees from all over the country, Gorrie remembers his Auburn roots.
"We have a pretty strong Auburn presence in our company for sure," Gorrie said.
Gorrie has also donated to the J. Steve Williams Endowed Scholarship in the McWhorter School of Building Science this year.
Gorrie considers landing the Braves contract a "great win" and is excited about working with the team.
Gorrie grew up listening to the Braves play on the radio with his grandfather.
The lifelong Braves fan frequently watches the team on TV, even though he rarely makes it to games at Turner Field.
"I did take my son the day before we were selected for the Braves stadium," Gorrie said. "We had a great time, even though the Braves lost."
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