Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                             SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE

$175,000                                                         July 22, 2002

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby unconditionally promises to
pay to the order of Dayton Superior Corporation, an Ohio corporation (the
"Company"), at its office located at 7777 Washington Village Drive, Suite 130,
Dayton, Ohio 45459 in lawful money of the United States, ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY
FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($175,000) plus interest at the rate of 5.69 % per annum
(which 5.69% per annum is equal to the annual long term applicable federal rate
for the calendar month of July, 2002 as published by the Internal Revenue
Service in Revenue Ruling 2002-40), compounded annually on the balance
outstanding from the date hereof.

         Except as otherwise provided herein or in the Repayment and Stock
Pledge Agreement between the Company and the undersigned dated the date hereof
(the "Pledge Agreement"), payments of principal and interest hereunder shall be
due as set forth in this Note. All accrued and unpaid interest and outstanding
principal on this Note shall be paid in full on December 31, 2017. The
undersigned shall have the right to prepay this Note, in whole or in part, at
any time without notice and without penalty. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, this Note shall be pre-paid, in whole or in part and from time
to time, from the proceeds (cash or otherwise) from any sale, transfer or other
disposition of the Pledged Securities (as hereinafter defined), including any
repurchase of the Pledged Securities by the Company. Any partial prepayments
shall be applied first to accrued and unpaid interest and then to principal.

         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Note, the unpaid
principal amount hereof, all accrued and unpaid interest hereunder and all other
amounts owing hereunder shall be due and payable in full on the date which is
fifteen months after the date of termination of the undersigned's employment
with the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Note or the Pledge
Agreement, upon the undersigned's termination of employment with the Company or
any of its subsidiaries for any reason, the Company may, in its discretion,
apply the amount of any incentive compensation and any other compensation (other
than payments in the nature of severance and final paychecks), in each case to
the maximum extent permitted by law, to repay the balance of this Note, if any,
and the undersigned hereby consents, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to
the Company's application of all such payments to so repay this Note.

         This Note is issued to evidence a loan made by the Company to the
undersigned and is secured by a pledge of certain Common Shares, without par
value, of the Company held by the undersigned (the "Pledged Securities")
pursuant to the Pledge Agreement.

         Notwithstanding the existence of the Pledged Securities as security for
repayment of this Note, the undersigned remains personally liable to the Company
for any deficiency in the payment of principal and interest hereunder after
applying the proceeds from any sale, transfer or other disposition of the
Pledged Securities to the payment of such principal and interest.

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         If an Event of Default (as defined in the Pledge Agreement) shall have
occurred and be continuing, then, at such time, the unpaid principal amount
hereof, all accrued and unpaid interest hereunder and all other amounts owing
hereunder shall be and become immediately due and payable without notice to the
undersigned.

         The Company shall have all of the rights of a secured creditor under
the Ohio Commercial Code with respect to the Pledged Securities pledged as
security hereunder.

         The undersigned promises to pay all costs and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by the Company in collecting or attempting
to collect the indebtedness under this Note.

         If any payment of principal of or interest on this Note becomes due and
payable on a day other than a business day, such payment shall be made on the
next succeeding business day. As used herein, the term "business day" means any
day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks in the City of
Dayton, Ohio are authorized by law to close.

         Except as otherwise provided herein, presentment for payment, demand,
notice of dishonor, protest and notice of protest are hereby waived. All
notices, declarations and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
hand delivered (including delivery by a courier service) as follows:

         If to the Company:

              Dayton Superior Corporation
              7777 Washington Village Drive
              Suite 130
              Dayton, Ohio  45459
              Attention:   General Counsel

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         If to the undersigned, to him at his most recent address as reflected
in the Company's records, or to such other address as the Company or the
undersigned may deliver to the other party from time to time in writing in like
manner, with a copy to:

              Peter Hardin-Levine
              Baker & Hostetler
              3200 National City Center
              1900 E. 9th Street
              Cleveland, OH  44114

                                          /s/ Stephen R. Morrey
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Stephen R. Morrey

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.5

                      REPAYMENT AND STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT

         This REPAYMENT AND STOCK PLEDGE AGREEMENT dated as of July 22, 2002,
2002 is made and entered into by and between Dayton Superior Corporation, an
Ohio corporation (the "Company"), and Stephen R. Morrey (the "Pledgor").

                                    RECITALS

         A.       The Pledgor desires for the Company to make a loan to him in
                  the aggregate principal amount of $350,015, and the Company is
                  willing to make such loan if the Pledgor pledges and grants to
                  the Company a security interest in certain Common Shares,
                  without par value, of the Company (the "Shares") held by the
                  Pledgor.

         B.       To evidence the loan being made by the Company to the Pledgor,
                  the Pledgor is delivering to the Company two promissory notes
                  of the Pledgor, each in the amount of $175,000 and each dated
                  the date hereof (the "Notes").

                                    AGREEMENT

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.       LOAN. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
the Company has made a loan in the aggregate amount of $350,000 to the Pledgor,
and the Pledgor has executed and delivered the Notes to the Company to evidence
such loan.

2.       PLEDGE.

         (a) As security for the payment and performance of all obligations of
the Pledgor on the Notes, including the payment of the principal of and interest
on the Notes, and in order to secure the Pledgor's obligations under this
Agreement, the Pledgor hereby delivers, pledges and assigns the Pledged
Securities (as hereinafter defined) to the Company and creates in the Company a
security interest in the Pledged Securities.

         (b) The "Pledged Securities" under this Agreement shall consist of the
Shares held by the Pledgor and all securities, certificates and instruments
representing or evidencing ownership of the Pledged Securities hereunder, and
all proceeds and products of any Pledged Securities hereunder, including,
without limitation, stock, cash, property or other dividends, securities, rights
and other property now or hereafter at any time or from time to time received,
receivable or otherwise distributed or distributable in respect of or in
exchange for any or all of such Pledged Securities including proceeds delivered
to the Company pursuant to Section 3 and any substituted or additional Pledged
Securities required to be supplied under the terms of this Agreement.

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3.       REPAYMENT. The Company acknowledges that the Shares are subject to the
Management Stockholders' Agreement dated June 16, 2000 by and between the
Company, Odyssey Investment Partners Fund, L.P. ("Odyssey") and certain
management shareholders of the Company (the "Management Stockholders Agreement")
which contains certain restrictions and other provisions applicable to the
Shares. The Pledgor hereby agrees that if the Pledgor (or any "Permitted
Transferee," as defined in the Management Stockholders Agreement) shall have
received at any time any cash payment or other distribution in respect of, or
upon transfer, sale or other disposition of, the Pledged Securities, then and in
each case until all of the Notes (including interest) are paid in full, the
Pledgor shall immediately deliver (or cause such Permitted Transferee to
deliver) to the Company any such cash payments or other distributions in partial
or full payment of the principal of and interest on the Notes. The Company shall
apply the proceeds of any such sale to the repayment of the Notes in such order
as the Company may determine in its sole discretion.

4.       ADMINISTRATION OF PLEDGED SECURITIES. The following provisions shall
govern the administration of the Pledged Securities:

         (a) So long as no Event of Default (as defined below) has occurred and
is continuing the Pledgor shall be entitled to act with respect to the Pledged
Securities in any manner not inconsistent with this Agreement, the Management
Stockholders Agreement, the Notes, or any document or instrument delivered or to
be delivered pursuant to or in connection with any of them.

         (b) The Pledgor shall immediately upon request by the Company and in
confirmation of the security interests hereby created, execute and deliver to
the Company such further instruments, deeds, transfers, assurances and
agreements, in form and substance as the Company shall request, including any
financing statement and amendments thereto, or any other documents, as required
under Ohio law and other applicable law to protect the security interests
created hereunder.

5.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PLEDGOR. The Pledgor hereby
represents and warrants as of the date hereof to the Company as follows:

         (a) The Pledgor has the full legal capacity to execute, deliver and
perform this Agreement, and this Agreement is his legal, valid and binding
obligation, enforceable against him in accordance with its terms.

         (b) The execution and delivery by the Pledgor of this Agreement, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the performance by
Pledgor of his obligations hereunder will not conflict with or result in any
violation of or default under any agreement or instrument to which he is a party
or by which he or any of his properties is bound, or any license, permit,
franchise, judgment, order, writ, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable
to him or his business or properties.

6.       DEFAULTS. The occurrence of any one or more of the following events or
conditions shall constitute an "Event of Default" under this Agreement:

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         (a) The Pledgor fails to make any principal or interest payment
required pursuant to any Note within 30 days of the due date therefor.

         (b) The Pledgor makes or has made or furnishes or has furnished, any
material written warranty, representation or statement to the Company in
connection with this Agreement which is or was false or misleading when made or
furnished.

         (c) Any lien or encumbrance other than that created by this Agreement
is placed on, or any levy is made on, the Pledged Securities, or any portion
thereof, or the Pledged Securities, or any portion thereof, is seized or
attached pursuant to legal process, and such lien, encumbrance, levy, seizure,
or attachment is not removed or released within thirty (30) days from the time
such lien or encumbrance was placed thereon or such levy, seizure or attachment
was effected.

         (d) The Pledgor commences any bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency
proceeding, or other proceeding under any federal, state or other law for the
relief of debtors.

         (e) The Pledgor fails to obtain dismissal, within sixty (60) days after
commencement thereof, of any bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization
proceeding or other proceeding for relief under any bankruptcy law, including,
without limitation, the Federal Bankruptcy Code, or any law for the relief of
debtors, instituted against the Pledgor by one or more third parties, fails to
oppose actively such proceeding, or, in any such proceeding defaults or files an
answer admitting the material allegations upon which the proceeding was based,
or alleges its willingness to have an order for relief entered or its desire to
seek liquidation, reorganization or adjustment of its debts.

         (f) Any receiver, trustee or custodian is appointed by a court of
competent jurisdiction to take possession of all or any substantial portion of
the assets of the Pledgor and such order is not vacated within sixty days of the
entry thereof.

         (g) The Pledgor shall fail generally to pay his or her debts as such
debts become due.

         (h) The Pledgor shall effect or there shall otherwise occur a Transfer
(as such term is defined in the Management Stockholders Agreement) not permitted
under the Management Stockholders Agreement.

7.       REMEDIES IN CASE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT.

         (a) In case an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
the Company shall have all of the remedies of a secured party under the Ohio
Uniform Commercial Code, and, without limiting the foregoing, shall have the
right, subject to any necessary regulatory approvals, to sell, assign and
deliver the whole or, from time to time, any part of the Pledged Securities, or
any interest in any part thereof, at any private sale or at public auction, with
or without demand of performance or other demand, advertisement or notice of the
time or place

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of sale or adjournment thereof or otherwise (except the Company shall give ten
(10) days' notice to the Pledgor of the time and place of any sale pursuant to
this Section 7), for cash, and credit or for other property, for immediate or
future delivery, and for such price or prices and on such terms as the Company
shall, in its sole discretion, determine, the Pledgor hereby waiving and
releasing any and all right or equity of redemption whether before or after sale
hereunder. At any such sale the Company may bid for and purchase the whole or
any part of the Pledged Securities so sold free from any such right or equity of
redemption. The Company shall apply the proceeds of any such sale first to the
payment of all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees,
incurred by the Company in enforcing its rights under this Agreement and then to
the payment of interest on and principal of the Notes, with such payments to be
applied in such order as the Company determines in its sole discretion.

         (b) The Pledgor recognizes that the Company may be unable to effect a
public sale of all or a part of the Pledged Securities by reason of certain
prohibitions contained in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), or
in the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, but may be compelled to
resort to one or more private sales to a restricted group of purchasers who will
be obliged to agree, among other things, to acquire the Pledged Securities for
their own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or
resale thereof. The Pledgor agrees that private sales so made may be at prices
and on other terms less favorable to the seller than if the Pledged Securities
were sold at public sale, and that the Company has no obligation to delay the
sale of the Pledged Securities for the period of time necessary to permit the
registration of the Pledged Securities for public sale under the Act; provided,
however, that no private sale shall be made of the Pledged Securities to any
Affiliate (as defined in the Management Stockholders Agreement) of the Company
or Odyssey at a price per share of Common Stock less than the lesser of (i) the
then Fair Market Value per share or (ii) the Initial Price per Share of such
Shares (as each term is defined in the Management Stockholders Agreement),
subject to adjustment to reflect any stock split, stock dividend, combination of
shares, merger or other adjustment to the Shares. The Pledgor agrees that a
private sale or sales made under the foregoing circumstances shall be deemed to
have been made in a commercially reasonable manner.

         (c) If any consent, approval or authorization of any state, municipal
or other governmental department, agency or authority should be necessary to
effectuate any sale or disposition by the Company of the Pledged Securities
pursuant to this Section 7, or any partial disposition of the Pledged
Securities, the Pledgor will execute all such applications and other instruments
as may be required in connection with securing any such consent, approval or
authorization, and will otherwise use his or her best efforts to secure the
same.

         (d) Neither failure nor delay on the part of the Company to exercise
any right, remedy, power or privilege provided for herein or by statute or at
law or in equity shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any such right, remedy, power or privilege preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy,
power or privilege.

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8.       PLEDGOR'S OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED. The obligations of the Pledgor
under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect without regard to,
and shall not be impaired or affected by: (a) any subordination, amendment or
modification of or addition or supplement to the Management Stockholders
Agreement or any Note, or any assignment or transfer of either thereof; (b) any
exercise or non-exercise by the Company of any right, remedy, power or privilege
under or in respect of this Agreement, the Management Stockholders Agreement or
any Note, or any waiver of any such right, remedy, power or privilege; (c) any
waiver, consent, extension, indulgence or other action or inaction in respect of
this Agreement, the Management Stockholders Agreement or any Note, or any
assignment or transfer of any thereof; or (d) any bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, composition, liquidation or the like,
of the Company or its successors, whether or not the Pledgor shall have notice
or knowledge of any of the foregoing.

9.       TRANSFERS BY PLEDGOR. The Pledgor will not sell, assign, transfer or
otherwise dispose of, grant any option with respect to, or mortgage, pledge or
otherwise encumber the Pledged Securities or any interest therein, except
pursuant to the Management Stockholders Agreement. In the event the Pledgor
transfers any pledged securities to a Permitted Transferee, the Pledgor shall
cause such Permitted Transferee to become a party to a Repayment and Stock
Pledge Agreement with terms and conditions substantially similar to those
contained herein.

10.      ATTORNEY-IN-FACT. The Company or its successor is hereby appointed the
attorney-in-fact of the Pledgor for the purpose of carrying out the provisions
of this Agreement and taking any action and executing any instrument which the
Company reasonably may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes
hereof, including without limitation, the execution of the applications and
other instruments described in Section 7(c), which appointment as
attorney-in-fact is irrevocable as one coupled with an interest.

11.      TERMINATION. Upon payment in full of principal of and interest on all
of the Notes and upon the due performance of and compliance with all of the
provisions of all of the Notes, this Agreement shall terminate, and the Pledgor
shall be entitled to the return of such of the Pledged Securities as has not
theretofore been sold, released pursuant to Section 7 or otherwise applied
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

12.      NOTICES. All notices or other communications required or permitted to
be given hereunder shall be delivered as provided in the Management Stockholders
Agreement.

13.      MISCELLANEOUS. The Company and its assigns shall have no obligation in
respect of the Pledged Securities, except to hold and dispose of the same in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement. This Agreement and any provisions
hereof may be amended, modified, waived, discharged or terminated only by an
instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of the
amendment, modification, waiver, discharge or termination is sought. The
provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of
the Pledgor. The captions in this Agreement are for convenience of reference
only and shall not define or limit the provisions hereof. This Agreement shall
be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the
State of Ohio, without regard to the conflicts of laws rules thereof. This
Agreement may be executed simultaneously in several counterparts, each of which
is an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

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                            [signature page follows]

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Repayment and
Stock Pledge Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the date first above
written.

                             DAYTON SUPERIOR CORPORATION,
                             an Ohio corporation

                             By:   /s/ Alan F. McIlroy
                                   ---------------------------

                             Its:  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                                   ------------------------------------------

                             STEPHEN R. MORREY

                             /s/ Stephen R. Morrey
                             ----------------------------------
                             (Signature)

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