The  Houston Maritime Museum                                                                                                      August  2004

IN THIS ISSUE   HMM Board of Directors 2004 -2005 HMM Board Meeting Update Commissioner Jim Edmonds visits HMM Profile of Chairman/CEO Jim Manzolillo Meetings at HMM

HMM Board of Directors 2004 -2005   James Manzolillo, Naval Architect and Marine Engineer, is Chairman/CEO.  Dr. G. Serpell Edwards, PhD, Oceanographer, is President.  Michael D. Sloan, Certified Public Accountant, is Secretary/Treasurer.  Vice-Presidents are:     Captain James Baker, former Director of Operations for the Port of Houston,     Joseph Bond, Attorney at Law,     Harry Bounds, USN (Retired),     Captain Paul Brown, Houston Pilots Association,     Sarah Menger, Community Relations,     Ted Paulissen, Business Development Consultant,     Captain Bert Thompson, International Seafarers Ministry and Community Service Organizations,     Carrington Weems, Investment Properties, Inc. and Community Services     Captain L. J. Heroy, USMS (Retired).

The Houston Maritime Museum (HMM) held a special Board of Directors meeting on August 3, 2004.  The main topic was the ongoing efforts to acquire a new location for the HMM.  Towards that end, a building acquisition committee was formed with Bert Thompson as chairperson.  This committee will expedite the search for a site and coordinate with other agencies to see that the HMM needs are known. A membership committee was also formed with Captain L. J. Heroy as chairperson.  Serpell Edwards volunteered to visit museums similar in size to the HMM in order to identify the job requirements of a museum director.  The long term goal of this effort is to find a full time director.

Commissioner Jim Edmonds visits HMM     Port of Houston Commissioner Jim Edmonds spoke to the World War II Merchant Marine Veterans meeting at HMM and is thanked by the group’s president Bob Thornton.

Profile of Chairman/CEO Jim Manzolillo

Jim Manzolillo joined the U.S. Maritime Service in June 1942 and sailed on oil tankers until September 1945.  He received his license as Third Assistant Engineer Steam and Second Assistant Engineer Diesel, unlimited horsepower from the U.S. Coast Guard. Jim completed his studies at Stevens Institute of Technology as a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer and also has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.   In 1959, Jim moved to Mexico City and started a shipyard in the Gulf free port of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz.  Two years later he opened the second shipyard in Salina Cruz, the free port on the Pacific side.  Among those vessels was the world’s first commercial vessel using one-quarter inch copper plate for its hull. After selling his shipyards in 1982, Jim visited Houston and then returned shortly to make Houston his home.  He began lecturing on various subjects associated with the sea and lectured aboard ninety-five cruises.  While traveling, he amassed a great deal of nautical memorabilia and over forty ship models – each with a history of its own.

In 1999, he turned his attention to developing the maritime museum he felt Houston needed.  In December 2000, the non-profit museum opened its doors to the public.   Today the museum displays over 100 ships, unique navigational instruments, and artifacts from around the world.  And, the museum facility hosts the World War II Merchant Marine Veterans’ and the Gulf Coast Historical Ship Modelers’ Society meetings.   Houston and visitors to Houston have responded to the new museum with enthusiastic support and the museum continues to develop and thrive.

Meetings at HMM

The World War II Merchant Marine Veterans meet on site at the Museum every other month.  For more information, contact Bob Thornton at (713) 665-1276.   The Gulf Coast Historical Ship Modelers’ Society meets at the Museum every other month, the second Friday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  For additional information, call Charlie Cozewith at (713) 661-1807.