I nominate the above person because he established SCUBA diving in the Cayman Islands upon return to Cayman. He became a Naui Scuba Instructor and taught 1000s of people how to scuba dive. He then hired Kem Jackson who became like a brother. For many years they worked together. Bob built a 19 foot cabin cruiser from a boat kit. He also transformed a Navy Barge to the first drop down dive boat to take out divers.He ran the company until 1980, when he sold it to Ron Kipp. However he continued on his adventures on the see as a Treasure Diver, recovering lost ships and their cargo. He started night diving, live aboard scuba diving boats, traveling all over the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans. He also became popular with film makers and started attending Kodak film festival. 1949 he was awarded a commendation from President Harry S. Truman for rescuing injured sailors from the Coast Guard Cutter the Eastwind. 1980 C. I Hotel Assoc award for Outstanding Service to the Tourism Industy, 1992 Cay Islands Cert. and Badge of Honor1994 Chamber of Commerce Award1996 first Conservation Marine Award, 1997 M. B. e at the Queens birthday Honors. 2000 Inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, 2002 Caribbean Tourism Organization Award for Superior Achievement Award. 2007 Cayman Observer Business Award as a business pioneer in the C. Islands. 1007 Inducted into the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association Hall of Fame. It is with great admiration and love that we, his sons, Rene, Danny and Randy wish to nominate our Dad as a Pioneer in the category of Seafaring. In 1942 at age 16 Dad joined the Cayman Home Guard and at age 17 became a Corporal. At 19 he left Cayman on the Arbutus to Tampa and then onto Jacksonville to join USS Warbler as a Fireman. The largest salvage vessel in the world at that time. On this ship, he was introduced to the world of diving, training in hardhat diving and salvaging of damaged ships. In 1945-1950 Dad worked on various American ships including the oil tanker Gulf Gem in Boston as Junior Engineer, and, on Liberty ships running relief goods to Europe. 1948 Dad joined the United Fruit Company for two years as Engineer. He said, 'they had the most beautiful ships in the world, called the Great White Fleet'. These ships ran between the United States, Panama and Honduras, passing through the Panama Canal every few weeks. 1949 on the SS Junior he was part of a rescue mission with coast guard cutter Eastwind which collided with the tanker Gulfstream killing 13 crewmen. A congratulatory letter from President H.S. Truman was received for their heroic efforts. 1950-1957 Dad joined National Bulk Carriers as Engineer and later became Second Engineer. It was during this time he traveled extensively through the Persian Gulf, hauling oil to Sumatra, then on to San Diego and San Francisco, as well as the Far East including Asia, Europe, Japan and through the Suez Canal. In Japan he picked up many newly built ships, trained crew of many different nationalities including Caymanians and turned these newly trained men back over to the shipping company. After sailing for 12 years, Dad returned to Cayman to pursue his passion for diving. In 1957 he decided to start the first scuba diving business in the Caribbean.

I nominate the above person because he established SCUBA diving in the Cayman Islands upon return to Cayman. He became a Naui Scuba Instructor and taught 1000s of people how to scuba dive. He then hired Kem Jackson who became like a brother. For many years they worked together. Bob built a 19 foot cabin cruiser from a boat kit. He also transformed a Navy Barge to the first drop down dive boat to take out divers.He ran the company until 1980, when he sold it to Ron Kipp. However he continued on his adventures on the see as a Treasure Diver, recovering lost ships and their cargo. He started night diving, live aboard scuba diving boats, traveling all over the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans. He also became popular with film makers and started attending Kodak film festival. 1949 he was awarded a commendation from President Harry S. Truman for rescuing injured sailors from the Coast Guard Cutter the Eastwind. 1980 C. I Hotel Assoc award for Outstanding Service to the Tourism Industy, 1992 Cay Islands Cert. and Badge of Honor1994 Chamber of Commerce Award1996 first Conservation Marine Award, 1997 M. B. e at the Queens birthday Honors. 2000 Inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, 2002 Caribbean Tourism Organization Award for Superior Achievement Award. 2007 Cayman Observer Business Award as a business pioneer in the C. Islands. 1007 Inducted into the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association Hall of Fame. It is with great admiration and love that we, his sons, Rene, Danny and Randy wish to nominate our Dad as a Pioneer in the category of Seafaring. In 1942 at age 16 Dad joined the Cayman Home Guard and at age 17 became a Corporal. At 19 he left Cayman on the Arbutus to Tampa and then onto Jacksonville to join USS Warbler as a Fireman. The largest salvage vessel in the world at that time. On this ship, he was introduced to the world of diving, training in hardhat diving and salvaging of damaged ships. In 1945-1950 Dad worked on various American ships including the oil tanker Gulf Gem in Boston as Junior Engineer, and, on Liberty ships running relief goods to Europe. 1948 Dad joined the United Fruit Company for two years as Engineer. He said, 'they had the most beautiful ships in the world, called the Great White Fleet'. These ships ran between the United States, Panama and Honduras, passing through the Panama Canal every few weeks. 1949 on the SS Junior he was part of a rescue mission with coast guard cutter Eastwind which collided with the tanker Gulfstream killing 13 crewmen. A congratulatory letter from President H.S. Truman was received for their heroic efforts. 1950-1957 Dad joined National Bulk Carriers as Engineer and later became Second Engineer. It was during this time he traveled extensively through the Persian Gulf, hauling oil to Sumatra, then on to San Diego and San Francisco, as well as the Far East including Asia, Europe, Japan and through the Suez Canal. In Japan he picked up many newly built ships, trained crew of many different nationalities including Caymanians and turned these newly trained men back over to the shipping company. After sailing for 12 years, Dad returned to Cayman to pursue his passion for diving. In 1957 he decided to start the first scuba diving business in the Caribbean.