The construction industry lost one of its most passionate champions this week with the passing of Past AGC of America President Dan Fordice.
Dan leaves behind a remarkable legacy shaped by faith, family, leadership, service and an unwavering commitment to both the construction industry and America’s veterans.
For Dan, construction was never just a profession — it was part of his identity. A third-generation construction professional at what is now a fourth-generation AGC member company, he grew up attending AGC of America conventions alongside his family before eventually leading the association as President in 2022.
He often reflected fondly on those early experiences, recalling family trips that began at AGC meetings and summers spent working in the family business from the age of 13. After earning a degree in Construction Engineering Technology from Mississippi State University, Fordice went on to serve in the United States Army and the Mississippi Army National Guard, where he developed the leadership philosophy that would define much of his life.
Military service remained deeply woven into who he was. Colleagues described him as a true patriot — someone whose love of God, country, industry, and people shaped every endeavor he pursued.
As AGC President, Fordice championed a message of unity under the theme “Together Forward,” a phrase inspired by his late father, former Mississippi Governor, and 1990 AGC of America Past President Kirk Fordice. He believed the construction industry’s greatest strength came from collaboration and from AGC’s unique role as the association representing the entire construction industry.
Fordice also became one of the association’s strongest advocates for engagement, chapter collaboration, and industry advocacy. He frequently emphasized the importance of bringing members together and ensuring every chapter and member— large or small — had a voice.
Beyond construction, aviation became one of Fordice’s greatest passions.
An accomplished pilot and lifelong student of military history, he dedicated countless hours to preserving World War II aircraft and the stories of the veterans who flew them. Through the Southern Heritage Air Foundation, Fordice helped preserve oral histories and create educational experiences to ensure future generations would never forget the sacrifices of America’s veterans.
He was also a member of the Commemorative Air Force General Staff Board of Directors and was widely known in the aviation community for flying his privately owned P-51C Mustang, Charlotte’s Chariot.
But perhaps his most meaningful work came through the Warrior Bonfire Program, which he founded in 2013 to support post-9/11 Purple Heart veterans through retreats and fellowship opportunities designed to aid healing and recovery.
Those who knew Fordice consistently described him as larger than life. He was thoughtful, commanding, generous, funny, and deeply compassionate. Whether speaking in front of a crowded room, mentoring younger industry leaders, flying a historic warbird, or sitting beside a veteran sharing their story, he led with conviction and humility.
His legacy lives on not only in the organizations he helped shape, but in the countless people he inspired through his leadership and service. Our prayers are with his family that he loved so dearly, his wife Ann Claire, and children Nathan, Alaina, and Erin, and three siblings.