W. Selkirk Owen Award
W. Selkirk Owen was born in Athens, Georgia in 1884 and received his elementary education from the Baltimore, Maryland public schools. He entered "Webb's Academy and Home for Shipbuilders" in 1900 and graduated in 1903. After spending a year at sea, he went to Scotland where he earned a B.S. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Glasgow in 1907.
Returning to America in 1908, Owen became active as a naval architect in several shipyards before being appointed Professor of Naval Architecture and Dean of Faculty at Webb in 1928, a position he retained for 22 years. In addition to teaching and administering the academic program, Professor Owen undertook private consulting work and served as expert witness in several admiralty court cases.
During his years at Webb, he enhanced the curriculum to that of an accredited engineering college, was part of the relocation efforts from the Bronx to Glen Cove, and laid plans for post-graduate education. His own high standards were reflected in the calibre of Webb graduates, who were often epitomized as "technicians of the highest order." For 22 years, he went beyond the realm of teaching by being a counselor and a friend to all students. He viewed a Webb graduate not only in terms of professional expertise but a gentleman and a leader as well. Due to his character, sense of honor and dedication to Webb and the Alumni Association, Webb Institute has gained much of its strength and professional image. It is only fitting that a tribute to his memory be created and that the William Selkirk Owen Award be the Alumni Association's highest honor presented to a graduate in recognition of outstanding achievement and service to the profession and his/her Alma Mater.
The following distinguished alumni have received this honor, which was established in 1964 and presented for the first time in 1966:
2012 Jay Carson '73
2011 Keith Michel '73
2010 Peter Van Dyke `60
2009 Lincoln D. Cathers ‘56
2008 Henry S. Marcus ‘65
2007 Norman A. Hamlin ‘44B
2006 Eugene R. Miller, Jr. ‘64
2005 Peter A. Gale ‘59 & ‘04 (Hon.)
2004 Thomas N. Manuel ‘54
2003 John A. Malone ‘71
2002 Roger H. Compton ‘61, PG'64
2001 Duane H. Laible ‘62
2000 Richard W. Thorpe, Jr. ‘55
1999 Richard A. Goldbach ‘58
1998 Albert M. Martinson ‘53
1997 Donald L. Caldera ‘57
1996 Robert D. Goldbach ‘58
1995 William duBarry Thomas ‘51
1994 Joseph J. Cuneo ‘57
1993 John J. Nachtscheim ‘47
1992 Thomas H. Bond ‘45
1991 Ronald K. Kiss '63
1990 Lawrence R. Glosten ‘40
1989 Eugene Schorsch ‘52
1988 Lawrence W. Ward PG'51
1987 Charles G. Visconti ‘55
1986 Robert G. Mende ‘51
1985 Edward M. MacCutcheon ‘37
1984 Victor W. Bethge ‘53
1983 Richards T. Miller ‘40
1982 Cedric Ridgely-Nevitt ‘39
1981 Robert Taggart ‘42
1980 Edward Renshaw ‘44A
1979 A. Dudley Haff ‘37
1978 Frank J. Joyce ‘44A
1977 Paul E. Atkinson ‘42
1976 Clifford E. Hoitt ‘34
1975 Jens T. Holm ‘41
1974 William J. Dorman ‘35
1973 Owen H. Oakley ‘37
1972 James J. Henry ‘35
1971 Jeremy B. Blood ‘22
1970 John A. Livingston ‘24
1969 Thomas M. Curran ‘25
1968 Frank M. Lewis ‘17
1967 John A. Niedermair ‘18
1966 Martin G. Kindlund ‘01
