Massachusetts Maritime Academy - Muster Yearbook (Buzzards Bay, MA)

Page 15 text:

RECOGNITION TO There are not enough pages in this book to give due recognition to all those who have helped us most during our years at the Academy. Still we offer what little we can to a few who gave most graciously of themselves for us. We give them a place in the Class Book of 1971 in order that their services and sacrifices may be recognized and recorded in our memories. To our class faculty advisers, Capt. William Earle and Lt. Cdr. David Burg- hardt we give a heart felt thanks for dedication and professional guidance that cannot be adequately rewarded by simply saying thank you. As we go out to our various careers, we will be guided toward goals that we have set for ourselves. The fact that we shall reach them with honor and pride will be a function of the principles learned from these men whose lives can be imitated as worthy examples. We hope our lives will be a tribute to their guidance. We cannot repay Lt. Thomas Dorsey for his devotion as an Instructor nor as a personal friend to our class. We must remember that if it had not been for his patience and self-sacrifice as faculty adviser to the MUSTER, this book would not be. The very fact that the book does exist, we hope will be a part of his own personal reward. OUR LIFE Finally, do we dare to attempt to offer some sort of repayment to Cdr. William Connors for all his efforts in our behalf? A simple but heart-felt thank you seems so inadequate for thirty five years of unending dedication to the task of sending forth from the Academy men capable of serving as effective officers in the U. S. Merchant Marine. Do we dare allow half a life-time of such dedication to pass unnoticed? Certainly not. We are limited in what we can do to repay him. He gave us his past, we must give him our futures, by being that product which he so highly prized, and that he hoped this school would produce.

Page 14 text:

DEDICA TION Our life at the Academy has been comprised of an arduous balance of classroom study and shipboard practice. In each of these areas we have found capable and interested father figures to guide and goad us along. Two such important people are Mr. Alan McNaughton and Mr. James Crosby. We dedicate the issue of the MUSTER to these two gentlemen who have been especially important in our lives. Mr. Crosby with his wealth of professional background and congenial personality have made the learning process both fruitful and fun. Many of us as we pursue our professional careers, will unconsciously be trying to immitate Bing , but we ' re confident none of us will ever be able to fill his steaming shoes . For the deckies who have their professional licenses hardly salted , it seems natural to want to express gratitude to Mr. McNaughton who has been so important in helping us to reach this station in our careers. His quiet and capable handling of his many roles on the staff - Master of the training ship, Instructor, O.O. D. or personal adviser, have been an inspiration to us. His career is our assurance that the trade to which we aspire still calls out men of character and we pray we will be equal to the example that he has set. 10

Page 16 text:

To the Class of ' 71 -- Massachusetts Maritime Academy: Congratulations ! As Governor of Massachusetts I saw you enroll as freshmen at the Academy. Now as Secretary of Transportation I am happy to welcome you to the even wider challenges of today ' s transportation world. We need your skills. We need your fresh young outlook. We need the can-do philosophy that I always associate with Bay Staters. But most of all we need working Americans who, by their words and deeds, will carry to our neighbors around the world the true picture of what ' s good about this great Nation. You now have that opportunity. And from my experience with the Academy and with your class I ' m sure that you have the training and the spirit to make the most of it. Good luck -- and very best wishes to each of you as you put out to sea.