The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE HOUSTON PILOTS ASSOCIATION
______
HON. BRIAN BABIN
of texas
in the house of representatives
Friday, December 3, 2021
Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the centennial of the Houston Pilots Association. Over the last century, they have faithfully provided pilotage services to foreign and domestic vessels entering and departing the Port of Houston.
The Houston Ship Channel (HSC) is one of the narrowest and busiest ports in the world, with 21,000 commercial vessels and more than 247 million tons of cargo in transit each year. It provides 3.2 million jobs and contributes $802 billion to America's yearly economy. In fact, more than 20 percent of Texas' gross domestic product (GDP) is supported by the HSC. The Houston pilots are responsible for maneuvering vessels safely and efficiently to and from docks through the narrow and congested Houston Ship Channel. Without the knowledge and expertise of the Houston pilots, our great state would not be flourishing.
The origin of the Houston pilots dates back to 1916 when L. Fred Allien and J. William Laughton received gubernatorial appointments as pilots for the Port of Houston and Galveston Bay. The official formation of the Houston Pilots Association occurred five years later, in 1921, when four more men were appointed to ensure the safety of ships and their crews entering and exiting the HSC. Their work laid the foundation for future generations of pilots.
The Houston pilots are a team of skilled ship handlers, commissioned by the governor of the Lone Star State to protect Houston's most vital waterway. Since 1921, 251 pilots have proudly served the Houston Ship Channel. Their names, units of service, and years of service are listed below:
George Allien, Unit No. 1, 1921-1940; James B. Birch, Unit No. 2, 1921-1935; Charles H. McLean, Unit No. 3, 1921-1950; W. Joseph Weikerth, Unit No. 4, 1921-1933; Charles O'Brien, Unit No. 5, 1922-
1952; Charles H. Baether, Unit No. 6, 1924-1946; Charles S. Borup, Unit No. 7, 1924-1949; Ezra Sherman, Unit No. 8, 1924-1936; Joseph G. Basquez, Unit No. 9, 1924-1938; Jesse S. Charpentier, Unit No. 10, 1925-1949; Audley Lancaster, Unit No. 11, 1925-1946; Leo Skinner, Unit No. 12, 1925-1952; Mason Wiggins, Unit No. 13, 1926-1949; George W. Allen, Unit No. 14, 1927-1943; Guy M. Stanton, Unit No. 15, 1927-1934; Edward B. Mercer Sr., Unit No. 16, 1928-1950; Albert S. Barrow, Unit No. 17, 1929-1935; Hugh C. Cage, Unit No. 18, 1930-1962; Nick J. Morina, Unit No. 19, 1931-1959; John R. Rowland, Unit No. 20, 1931-
1949; Roy C. Blodgett, Unit No. 21, 1932-1960; V. A. Bujan, Unit No. 22, 1932-1934; Henry Corry, Unit No. 23, 1932-1961; W. E. Dunlap, Unit No. 24, 1932-1956; J. F. Cook, Unit No. 25, 1938-1956; Charles H. Fuller, Unit No. 26, 1938-1957; Coney T. McMains, Unit No. 27, 1938-
1965; Holt P. Daniels, Unit No. 28, 1940-1957; M. F. Russell, Unit No. 29, 1943-1958; James E. McNary, Unit No. 30, 1947-1972; I.E. Wicker, Unit No. 31, 1947-1958; Charles Barfield, Unit No. 32, 1948-1967; David O. Duncan, Unit No. 33, 1948-1961; Kenneth B. Plash, Unit No. 34, 1948-
1959; Merl E. Palmer, Unit No. 35, 1948-1959; Lewis Bennett, Unit No. 36, 1951-1965; Fred A. Parker, Unit No. 37, 1951-1969; Jack E. Rowland, Unit No. 38, 1951-1973; Curtis W. Burlison, Unit No. 39, 1951-1971; Arthur S. Borup, Unit No. 40, 1951-1969; A.G. Roye, Unit No. 41, 1952-
1958; Edward B. Mercer Jr., Unit No. 42, 1951-1992; Thomas H. Bratcher, Unit No. 43, 1952-1970; William W. Steinhart, Unit No. 44, 1952-1984; Lee Roy Murray Jr., Unit No. 45, 1952-1984; Paul Collie, Unit No. 46, 1953-1986; Elmer C. Bell, Unit No. 47, 1953-1986; Robert D. Moss, Unit No. 48, 1957-1966; Harold B. Willis, Unit No. 49, 1957-1980; Philip Pizzitola, Unit No. 50, 1956-1996; Pat J. Neely Jr., Unit No. 51, 1957-
1992; Robert E. Adams, Unit No. 52, 1957-1994; Thomas N. Lightsey Jr., Unit No. 53, 1957-1993; Leroy Arthur, Unit No. 54, 1957-1977; James C. Wall, Unit No. 55, 1958-1987; Jack W. Vetter, Unit No. 56, 1958-1991; A. Thomas Gibson, Unit No. 57, 1959-1968; Walter C. Nixon, Unit No. 58, 1958-1996; Neill W. Ray, Unit No. 59, 1958-1991; Tommy E. Longino, Unit No. 60, 1958-1995; Robert E. Wicker, Unit No. 61, 1960-1974; James F. Johnson, Unit No. 62, 1960-
1974; James W. Pearson, Unit No. 63, 1959-1988; Billy F. Mahaffey, Unit No. 64, 1959-1985; Charles C. Lary Jr., Unit No. 65, 1959-1983; Paul A. Galler, Unit No. 66, 1960-1974; Zane Skinner, Unit No. 67, 1960-1990; Renee S. Aguillard, Unit No. 68, 1960-1968; Jack B. Niday Jr., Unit No. 69, 1960-1985; Jay C. Browning, Unit No. 70, 1961-1989; H. E. Andersen, Unit No. 71, 1961-1993; Arthur Tuttle Jr., Unit No. 72, 1961-1991; Wesley B. Parker, Unit No. 73, 1961-1987; Earl C. Goodwin, Unit No. 74, 1966-1997; Robert D. Bennett, Unit No. 75, 1967-1995; Edwin L. Bruce, Unit No. 76, 1967-1994; Eugene C. Garrison, Unit No. 77, 1967-1987; Robert L. White Jr., Unit No. 78, 1968-1988; Roy R. Faulkner, Unit No. 79, 1968-1996; Roger H. Sutton, Unit No. 80, 1968-1989; Lindy A. LeBert, Unit No. 81, 1968-1997; Eldridge Larry Burnthorne, Unit No. 82, 1971-1992; Henry Jesse Gibson, Unit No. 83, 1971-1983; Charles A. Schuessler, Unit No. 84, 1971-1992; Francis Michael Kershaw, Unit No. 85, 1972-1984; James L. Griffin, Unit No. 86, 1973-1988; Jimmie L. Williams, Unit No. 87, 1974-1985; Leslie Palmer, Unit No. 88, 1974-
2002; Jack W. Roland, Unit No. 89, 1974-2001; Michael K. Lawson, Unit No. 90, 1975-2009; Donald A. Clark, Unit No. 91, 1975-1986; Allan R. Barry, Unit No. 92, 1977-2007; Stewart G. Corry, Unit No. 93, 1977-
2000; John C. Chapman, Unit No. 94, 1977-2008; Harry L. Lydick Jr., Unit No. 95, 1978-2014; Richard C. Schultheis, Unit No. 96, 1978-2006; Michael P. Gale, Unit No. 97, 1979-1996; Thomas E. Phelps, Unit No. 98, 1979-2014; Joseph W. Warfield, Unit No. 99, 1980-2011; Raymond J. Fincher, Unit No. 100, 1980-2005; James Joseph Donnelly, Unit No. 101, 1980-2005; Pieter C. Duif, Unit No. 102, 1980-1982; Robert M. Bratcher, Unit No. 104, 1980-2005; Ernest D. Reed, Unit No. 105, 1980-2011; Lance A. Miller, Unit No. 106, 1980-2005; David A. Smith, Unit No. 107, 1982-
2010 Monte B. Warren, Unit No. 108, 1982-2018; Charles C. Lary, Unit No. 109, 1985-2018; Charles H. Picton, Unit No. 110, 1985-2015; Paul G. Brown, Unit No. 111, 1985-2018; R. Leonard Glass, Unit No. 112, 1986-
2009; Thomas L. Gibson, Unit No. 113, 1986-2013; Armando Luna, Unit No. 114, 1986-2014; John B. Niday, Unit No. 115, 1987-2007; Walter F. Russell, Unit No. 116, 1987-2005; Charles Edward Larsen, Unit No. 117, 1988-2011; Louis C. Vest, Unit No. 118, 1988-2015; James R. Wall, Unit No. 119, 1989-2004; Robert L. Thompson, Unit No. 120, 1989-present; Randy L. Rhoads, Unit No. 121, 1989-2015; Daniel J. Doty, Unit No. 122, 1989-2020; Richard D. Moore, Unit No. 123, 1990-2018; Bobby W. Kirk, Unit No. 124, 1990-2015; Scott J. Browning, Unit No. 125, 1991-2020; Larry E. Walters, Unit No. 126, 1991-2015; Richard J. Teeter, Unit No. 127, 1991-2021; Richard H. Fisher, Unit No. 128, 1992-2012; Paul F. Dunaway, Unit No. 129, 1992-2017; Michael R. Pizzitola, Unit No. 130, 1992-2018; Arthur F. Tuttle, Unit No. 131, 1993-2020; Eric W. Corgey, Unit No. 132, 1993-2017; George C. Reeser Jr., Unit No. 133, 1993-2017; James J. Hensley, Unit No. 134, 1993-2015; Theodore A. Schendel, Unit No. 135, 1994-2016; Angel Gonzales, Unit No. 136, 1994-2015; William Scott Frailey, Unit No. 137, 1994-2021; Michael C. Phillips, Unit No. 138, 1994-present; Charles R. Schuessler, Unit No. 140, 1995-present; Julian T. Platon, Unit No. 141, 1995-2019; Robert M. Shearon, Unit No. 142, 1995-2020; Greg Brown, Unit No. 143, 1996-present; Paul L. Bartholmey, Unit No. 144, 1996-2013; Steven P. Housinger, Unit No. 145, 1996-2017; David A. Rodrigues, Unit No. 146, 1996-present; Sherri G. Hickman, Unit No. 147, 1996-present; Robert V. Arthur, Unit No. 148, 1996-2021; Barry Craig Holland, Unit No. 149, 1996-present; Criss K. Schroeder, Unit No. 150, 1996-2020; Holly B. Cooper, Unit No. 151, 1996-present; Michael A. Morris, Unit No. 152, 1997-2017; Thomas J. Cleary, Unit No. 153, 1997-2018; Brett A. Callier, Unit No. 154, 1997-
present; Robert S. Deckard, Unit No. 155, 1997-2018; Laurence A. Wheatley, Unit No. 156, 1998-2020; Mark W. Mitchem, Unit No. 157, 1998-
present; Scott E. Roberts, Unit No. 158, 1998-present; Kent D. Barton, Unit No. 159, 1999-present; Elton S. Porter, Unit No. 160, 1999-2017; Stephen J. Conway, Unit No. 161, 1999-2019; John C. Blomquist, Unit No. 162, 1999-present; Larry Evans, Unit No. 163, 1999-2017; Thomas C. Goodwin, Unit No. 164, 1999-present; Robert G. Webbon, Unit No. 165, 1999-2019; Michael G. McGee, Unit No. 166, 1999-present; John M. Vassar, Unit No. 168, 2001-present; Thomas C. Pace, Unit No. 169, 2001-
present; William Jack Mitchell, Unit No. 170, 2001-2018; Hugh A. Guidry, Unit No. 171, 2001-present; James T. Concagh, Unit No. 172, 2001-present; Michael A. Curtiss, Unit No. 173, 2001-present; Randall E. Medard, Unit No. 174, 2002-present; Michael J. Newingham, Unit No. 175, 2002-present; Stephen M. Hill, Unit No. 176, 2004-present; Craig P. Newkirk, Unit No. 177, 2004-present; Clint Adam Winegar, Unit No. 178, 2008-present; Charles Calvin Murphy, Unit No. 179, 2008-present; Bradley G. Miller, Unit No. 180, 2008-present; Steven A. Nelson, Unit No. 181, 2008-present; Sean P. Arbogast, Unit No. 182, 2008-present; John M. Bratcher, Unit No. 183, 2008-present; Jeff B. Locke, Unit No. 184, 2009-present; Mark A. Peace, Unit No. 185, 2009-present; Marcus A. Maher, Unit No. 186, 2009-present; Kelly J. Creech, Unit No. 187, 2009-
present; Kenneth Jones Sr., Unit No. 188, 2010-present; Jason Charpentier, Unit No. 190, 2010-present; Gilberto Martinez Jr., Unit No. 191, 2010-present; David Reeder, Unit No. 192, 2010-present; Jonathan Samuell, Unit No. 193, 2010-present; Donald King, Unit No. 194, 2010-present; Sean Cook, Unit No. 195, 2011-present; Chad Prejean, Unit No. 196, 2011-present; Blakeley Morgan, Unit No. 197, 2011-
present; Michael Riggle, Unit No. 198, 2011-present; Adam W. Guice, Unit No. 199, 2011; Frank Loeffler IV, Unit No. 200, 2011-present; Matthew Glass, Unit No. 201, 2013-present; Michael Lawson II, Unit No. 202, 2013-present; Robert Roberts, Unit No. 203, 2014-present; Sheldon Ginsberg, Unit No. 204, 2014-present; Kristi Taylor, Unit No. 205, 2014-present; Phillip Reed, Unit No. 206, 2014-present; Jeremiah Walcik, Unit No. 207, 2014-present; Patrick J. Dean, Unit No. 208, 2014-present; Stephen Jewell, Unit No. 209, 2015-present; William Ewing, Unit No. 211, 2015-present; Jason Stancil, Unit No. 212, 2017-
present; Rebekah Martin, Unit No. 213, 2017-present; Travis Parker, Unit No. 214, 2017-present; Justin Benecke, Unit No. 215, 2017-present; Jason Briones, Unit No. 216, 2017-present; Rohit Malhotra, Unit No. 217, 2017-present; William Kem, Unit No. 218, 2018-present; Darren Collins, Unit No. 219, 2018-present; Brandon Bass, Unit No. 220, 2018-
present; Kevin Keith, Unit No. 221, 2018-present; Justin Phillips, Unit No. 222, 2019-present; Adam Shuptar, Unit No. 223, 2019-present; Brian Saba, Unit No. 244, 2019-present; Nicholas Henrich, Unit No. 225, 2019-
present; Cody Lynch, Unit No. 227, 2019-present; Douglas Kelly, Unit No. 229, 2019-present; Brent Covert, Unit No. 230, 2019-present; Kevin Kirk, Unit No. 231, 2020-present; John Dunaway, Unit No. 232, 2020-
present; Bradley Albrecht, Unit No. 233; 2020-present; Ramin Hatami, Unit No. 234, 2020-present; Donald Buckley Jr., Unit No. 235, 2020-
present; Nicholas Moraski, Unit No. 236, 2021-present; Matthew Decatur, Unit No. 237, 2021-present; Brent Elrod, Unit No. 238, 2021-present; Scott Reed, Unit No. 240, 2021-present; Curtis Laskowski, Unit No. 241, 2021-present; Lucas Beyl, Unit No. 242, 2021-present; Ryan Casas, Unit No. 243, 2021-present; Bryan English, Unit No. 244, Deputy; Mark Scott II, Unit No. 245, Deputy; Justin Eusepi, Unit No. 246, Deputy; Ian Manthey, Unit No. 247, Deputy; Justin Conway, Unit No. 248, Deputy; C. Lane Gould, Unit No. 249, Deputy; Donald Childress, Unit No. 250, Deputy; Darris Jefferson Jr., Unit No. 251, Deputy.
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the Houston Pilots Association for their 100 years of commitment to safety while keeping our waterways open and the commerce of Texas, the United States, and the world moving.
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 209
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
House Representatives' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up