LIBI honors Tom Datre and Bill Prush at 64th Annual Dinner Dance

Every year since 1942, LIBI holds an industry dinner dance honoring the past president and more recently, associate-of-the-year. This year the 64th Annual Dinner Dance was held on May 13th at Flowerfields, St. James, New York. LIBI’s honorees, Past President Tom Datre and Associate-of-the-Year, Bill Prush received accolades from industry and government leaders, peers, family and friends during a black tie event complete with full band and gourmet dining.

Past President Tom Datre, a custom home builder and developer from East Islip, New York, is an advocate of affordable/workforce housing began his LIBI membership in 1987. Mr. Datre initially was active as LIBI’s PAC chair and served as an association officer in the positions of secretary, treasurer and vice-president and was appointed as director of the New York State Builders Association. Mr. Datre was a driving force in communicating the need for workforce housing for Long Island’s young families and senior housing and steered LIBI’s Public Relations Committee to focus its attention on the housing problem facing most Long Island families. Currently Mr. Datre is LIBI’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chair of New York Builders Association PAC committee and is a Trustee of the National Home Builders Association, Build Pac. He was appointed by County Executive Steve Levy to Suffolk County’s Commission for Work Force Housing. Recently, Mr. Datre joined the executive ladder of the New York State Builders Association when he accepted appointment as Alternate National Director for New York State Builders Association. He also serves as a Director of LIBI’s charitable arm, Long Island Builders Care, Inc.

Starting as a trimmer and framing contractor, Mr. Datre learned the craft as well as the business of homebuilding. He is known for this quality workmanship on the job. He is his own field superintendent and is found more often on the job site than in the office. Actually Mr. Datre is usually up on a roof, teaching his workmen the craftsmanship he learned over four decades. His current projects include a 6300 sq.ft. luxury home in East Islip, fifty Southampton condos and two jobs totaling 35 homes for the Long Island Housing partnership in Islip and Brookhaven.

On the private side of Tom you will see a man who is very dedicated to his entire family. Along with his wife Clara and his daughter Carla, the Datres reside in East Islip. Both his son Thomas, Jr. and his daughter Gia are married and living on their own. His children have enjoyed the good life that Long Island offers. His son Thomas runs his own business while his daughter Gia is a certified chef and his daughter Carla is a schoolteacher in the Brentwood school district. They have made him a proud grandfather of eight grandchildren. Mr. Datre loves to be surrounded by his children and grandchildren, especially for Sunday dinners.
Bill Prush of Alside Supply, LIBI’s Associate-of-the-Year, was the recipient of the Rising Star Award, given to new associate members who demonstrate dedicated and effective participation and volunteerism. Mr. Prush went on to serve on LIBI’s Membership and Remodelor’s Council and a dedicated volunteer at LIBI events and golf outings. By 2004 he become the Associate Counil President, after serving as secretary and continues to give of his time and energy to the association.

Mr. Prush has been frequently nominated for various sales awards by Alside, cuminlating in the Long Island Supply Center’s receiving the coveted Alside Supply Center of the Year for three years and being selected to the Alside President’s Council, a committee consisting of the companies’ leading sales and operations personnel whose purpose was to advise the Supply Center President on industry trends, new products and improving processes in the companies’ ninety plus supply centers. In 2004 Alside added an additional store in Ronkonkoma and Mr. Prush took on the managerial responsibilities there as well.
In addition to his participation at LIBI, Mr. Prush is an avid golfer. He has been a member of Douglaston Golf Club since 1984 many of those years serving as its President and in other committee positions as well. He has been a member of the Free and Accepted Masons since 2001 belonging to the Dongan Patent Lodge in Port Jefferson.
He and his wife Wendy moved to West Hempstead from Queens. Their first child Eric is now a Naval ROTC student at Boston University. Their second child, Madeline, is an honors student at St. Francis Prep in Queens.