Offering this in remembrance of our brother and friend, Bill Eglinton. This is the text of his “retirement” article from a 2007 issue of the Log. (It’s online elsewhere but the formatting is messed up.) Training Director Eglinton Retires When Bill Eglinton first drove to the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Md. for a job interview, he pulled off the road twice to call and ask if he’d missed the turnoff. He was told to keep driving south. That happened in early 1973, shortly before Eglinton became an instructor at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education (then known as the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship). Since then, the school has grown tremendously—and, for better or worse, many of the pastoral areas nearby have given way to development. One could say Eglinton’s duties underwent an even more radical expansion and change since those first days as an instructor. Between then and his official retirement last month, he became a respected and well-known representative for U.S. mariners on numerous high-level domestic and international maritime bodies. At the school, he most recently served as director of training—a position he filled since 1980. His commitment to the union, school and industry in general didn’t end upon his retirement. With mariners facing (among other upcoming challenges) the new TWIC and merchant mariner credential programs, Eglinton will remain available for freelance assignments—a development sincerely appreciated by SIU officials. “Bill’s always been a good guy and done a good job, but I think what really needs to be said is that his duties went far beyond being a vocational director,” stated Paul Hall Center Vice President Don Nolan, who worked with Eglinton for 34 years. “When you think of all those acronyms—MERPAC, NMSAC, ITF and many others —you get an idea of how much he has meant to the school and the union, because he’s served on all of them. We wish him the best, but he’s really not going away. No one could fill those shoes.” SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel often worked with Eglinton on international maritime matters. “He was very instrumental in STCW negotiations, protecting our seafarers during those talks,” Heindel recalled. “He did a great job of educating not only our membership but the U.S. public in general about compliance. Bill also played a big role looking out for U.S. mariners right after 9/11. Of course, he helped many Seafarers upgrade their skills throughout the years.” Assistant Director of Training J.C. Wiegman pointed to the school’s progress under Eglinton as evidence of his effectiveness. “The accomplishments are many, from tanker safety programs to the TRB (training record book, which Eglinton developed) and the implementation of STCW,” Wiegman noted. “In between regulatory requirements, there were cruise ships and military-contracted company needs that were met, plus inland programs. The school upgraded by adding a fire fighting facility, full mission bridge simulation, engine room simulation and supporting programs just to name a few of his many achievements as director of training. I wish him fair winds and following seas.” Born in Claremont, N.H., Eglinton graduated from the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School in 1972 and later earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in 1983. Since 1991, he has served as a member of U.S. delegations to International Maritime Organiza¬tion meetings conducted in London. He was appointed by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge to serve on the Coast Guard’s Maritime and Homeland Security task group. He also has authored marine engineering books. A retired member of the U.S. Naval Reserves, Eglinton continues serving on working groups with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the Coast Guard’s National Maritime Security Advisory Committee and (separately) Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC), among other endeavors. At the Paul Hall Center, he was instrumental in the school’s obtaining degree-granting status (associate’s degrees in nautical science and marine engineering, respectively). He also developed or assisted in putting together the center’s curriculums for LNG ships, welding, refrigeration, diesel and third assistant engineer, to name but a few. “My most cherished memories are from teaching,” Eglinton said. “I truly loved it. Watching students suddenly get that ‘Bingo! I got it!’ look on their faces cannot be replaced by any other line of work.” Reflecting on his career, Eglinton mentioned many challenges and some daunting tasks. But there were lighthearted moments, too. His funniest experience took place in the early 1990s while teaching crowd control aboard an American Hawaii Cruises vessel. “I went aboard in Portland, Ore. and had five days to instruct the unlicensed crew—two classes of 25 per day,” he remembered. “On the last day, I walked into the auditorium and there were only about 16 people seated for the class. I did all the lectures first and then started the role-playing—how to handle drunken passengers, hysterical parents looking for their children, etc. “When I asked for a volunteer to role-play an inebriated passenger, immediately there were 16 falling-down-drunk students in front of me. I then asked for someone to be a distraught parent, and promptly had 16 people giving Academy Award performances. They suddenly stopped upon seeing my bewildered look, as I’m looking around for the Candid Camera, and laughingly explained that they were the ship’s entertainment crew: actors, actresses, singers, band members. Yeah, they got me!” ###
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:05:30 +0000
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