[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 42 (Tuesday, April 16, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO HENRY PHILLIPS, U.S. MERCHANT MARINE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SONNY CALLAHAN

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 16, 2002

  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to fellow 
Alabamian Henry Phillips, a merchant mariner, member of the Marine 
Engineers' Beneficial Association, and educator. This month, Henry will 
hang up his boiler suit one last time and retire after nearly 30 years 
of involvement with the U.S. Merchant Marine, most recently as director 
of the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School.
  Henry is himself a 1972 graduate of the MEBA School. He is the first 
alumnus appointed director of the school, the country's premier 
institution of maritime continuing education. After graduation, Henry 
became a member of the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA), 
the nation's oldest maritime union. Henry began a long and rewarding 
career in the Merchant Marine sailing as chief engineer with a number 
of U.S. flag companies including Keystone Shipping, U.S. Lines, and 
most recently with Sea-Land.
  In January 2000, Henry Phillips left the deck plates for good, having 
been appointed director of the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School in 
Easton, Maryland. Henry's combination of real world experience at sea 
and his participation in establishing the Calhoon School's 
instrumentation course in the 1990's prepared him for the 
responsibility and complexities of running a world-class maritime 
educational facility. The school, a joint labor-management operation, 
ensures that America's Fourth Arm of Defense--the U.S. Merchant 
Marine--is well stocked with professional engineers and deck officers 
in the event our country is in conflict.
  Henry and his wife Margaret are residents of Daphne, Alabama. Both 
their children, Bubba (Henry, Jr.) and Elizabeth are attending college. 
Henry plans to return there, run a small business, and spend time with 
his family.
  Both inside and outside the maritime community, Henry is known for 
his keen wit and humble manner. I had the opportunity to spend some 
time with Henry on a flight from Alabama to Washington earlier this 
year. We talked about the health of our Merchant Marine and its 
importance to our country's security. And of course we talked about 
retiring from the work we love and our eagerness to move back to 
Alabama to be with family and friends.
  Henry rose to the pinnacle of his profession after a career spanning 
three decades of involvement in the Merchant Marine. He made lasting 
contributions to his union's school, improving the curriculum and 
enhancing its professional standing. Henry is an exceptional person and 
first-class marine officer. Mr. Speaker, my Congressional colleagues, 
please join me in thanking Henry Phillips for his service to America's 
Merchant Marine.

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