Bennie “Pete” Bryan Welding Scholarship Established

April 23, 2008 - Two new scholarships will soon be available to students at Sandersville Technical College. Established by Bryan Welding and Fabrication, the Benjamin Peter Bryan, “Bennie Pete”, Scholarships will be awarded each year to students pursuing degrees in welding.

Employees of Bryan Welding and Fabrication establish the
Benjamin Peter Bryan, “Bennie Pete” Welding Scholarship.

Tony Simmons, welding instructor at STC, remembers asking Bennie Pete to join the Welding Advisory Board at Sandersville Tech. “He was excited and enthusiastic about helping to grow the program even allowing our students to come to his business on field trips,” remembers Simmons.

“He was always willing to help in anyway. When I think of Bennie Pete, I think of the 10 work ethic traits that the college uses to evaluate students. I associate him with those high work ethic standards.”

Bennie’s dream of owning a welding business started as far back as high school where his interest in metals and fabrication grew along with his skills and work ethics.

He spent the next thirty five years working in the local kaolin industry where he gained not only knowledge of metal working, but a sense of business acumen.

During those years, Bennie did some free lance work on the weekends out of a small shop at home. In 1998, he felt that the time was right to start his own business. He hired two helpers and began what is now known as Bryan Welding and Fabrication, Inc.

In June of 2003, Bennie retired from Imerys to focus on his business and added four new employees. In one year, the business grew so quickly that additional help was needed. Bennie’s reputation for high business standards, quality work and fair trade caused his business to soar.

Sadly, Bennie passed away before he could truly enjoy the fruits of his labor, but his long hours of intense planning paid off.

Today, Bryan Welding and Fabrication, Inc. employs 21 workers and office staff. The staff says they function like a family and the high standards that were so important to Bennie will always be present and his good deeds will continue on through the Bennie “Pete” Bryan Welding Scholarship.