Industry Awards

every year, THE SEATTLE PROPELLER CLUB RECOGNIZeS COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE REGION who are making an outstanding contribution to THE maritime community. Awardees are announced at THE Maritime Day Breakfast.

maritime achievement award

Public official of the year Award

Educator of the year Award

Presented annually during the Seattle Maritime DAY BREAKFAST to an individual who has brought great credit or economic benefit to the maritime interests of the Puget Sound area. Recognizes either a long and distinguished career or a specific achievement.

Each year the Seattle Propeller Club recognizes a local elected or public official whose outstanding work or service has made a significant contribution to maritime commerce in the Pacific Northwest. 

THE Seattle Propeller Club first presented this award in 2024 to recognize a local maritime educator whose outstanding work or service has made a significant contribution to maritime commerce in the Pacific Northwest.

Maritime Achievement Award

2025 Award Recipients

Public OFFICIAL of the year

Dan Strauss

Seattle City COUNCIL MEMBER

George Blomberg

Port of Seattle

Tyson Trudel

Maritime High School

Educator of the year

past award recipients

Puget SOund maritime achievement award

1951           Clarence Carlander*                    Puget Sound Freight Lines & Port of Seattle Commissioner

1952           C. Arthur Foss*                             Foss Launch & Tug

1953           E.A. "Eddie" Black*                      Black Enterprises & Commercial Ship Repair

1954           Jerry Bryant*                                Bryant's Marina

1955           Horace McCurdy*                        Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging, Lockheed Shipyard

1956           Warren G. Magnuson*               United States Senate

1957           Edward W. Allen*                        Allen, DeGarmo & Leedy, International Fisheries Commission

1958           D.E. "Ned" Skinner*                    Alaska Steamship Co.

1959           Capt. N.A. "Nick" Lidstone*       United State Navy, Retired

1960           Robert D. Ladd*                           Pacific Marine Supply

196l            H.P. "Dick" Everest*                      University of Washington, Citizen's Port Committee

1962           Robert G. Zener*                         Todd Shipyards

1963           Worth B. Fowler*                        American Mail Line

1964           Howard M. Burke*                      American Hawaiian Steamship Co., Port of Seattle

1965           John H. Lee*                                 Puget Sound Tug & Barge

1966           Dr. Dixy Lee Ray*                         Pacific Science Center

1967           G.R. "Ray" Seefeldt*                    Olympic Steamship Co, Salmon Terminals

1968           Capt. A.F. "Spike" Eikum*          Washington State Ferries

1969           Charles I. Hiltzheimer*               Sea-Land Services

1970           John M. Haydon*                        Port of Seattle Commissioner

1971           J. Eldon Opheim*                        Port of Seattle

1972           Capt. Merle Adlum*                    Port of Seattle Commissioner and labor leader

1973           Philip F. Spaulding*                    Nickum & Spaulding

1974           Col. E.L. "Roy" Perry*                Port of Tacoma

1975           Peter G. Schmidt*                        MARCO

1976           Fred R. Smith*                              Seattle Stevedore Co.

1977           Ken Ayers*                                    Crowley Maritime Corporation, Northwest Towboat Association

1978           Sid Campbell*                              Foss Launch & Tug

1979           Frank Lynott*                              Tacoma Boatbuilding

1980           Richard D. Ford*                         Port of Seattle

1981           Carl R. Meurk*                            Todd Pacific Shipyards

1982-83     Award not presented

1984           Richard Dale Smith*                   Port of Tacoma

1985           Joel Pritchard*                           United States House of Representatives

1986           Robert B. McMillen*                  Totem Ocean Trailer Express

1987           Phil Lelli*                                      ILWU Local 23

1988           James D. Dwyer                           Port of Seattle

1989           Burt S. Shearer*                         Matson Navigation Company

1990           Capt. Lynn Campbell*                Seattle Harbor Tours

1991           Stan Barer*                                  Garvey Schubert & Barer, Totem Resources Corporation

1992           Bill Lawrence*                             Transportation Institute

1993           F.D. “Ricky” Smith                       Stevedoring Services of America

1994           Tom Van Dawark                         Foss Maritime

1995           Webster B. Anderson*              B.R. Anderson & Co.

1996           Peter Zuanich*                            Port of Bellingham

1997           Clayton R. Jones, Jr.                 Jones Stevedoring Company

1998           Marc Hershman*                        Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center

1999           Harry Hutchins*                         Puget Sound Steamship Operators Association

2000           Gary Ritzman                               Sea-Land Service

2001           Paul Chilcote*                            Port of Tacoma

2002           Mic Dinsmore                              Port of Seattle

2003           Bob Magee*                                Totem Ocean Trailer Express

2004           Norm Manly                                Youth Maritime Training Association

2005           Kirk Lanterman*                       Holland America Line

2006           Leslie Hughes                            North Pacific Fishing Vessel Owners Association

2007           Anthony Haycock*                  Catholic Seamen’s Club

2008           Steve Scalzo                             Maritime Resources Group

2009           Jerry Mattox                            Jeremy Mattox & Associates

2010           Steve Welch                              Todd Pacific Shipyards

2011           Mike Garvey                               Garvey Schubert Barer/Saltchuk Resources

2012           Chris Woodley                         United States Coast Guard

2013           John Veentjer                          Marine Exchange of Puget Sound

2014           Gary Stauffer                          Youth Maritime Training Association

2015           Vince O’Halloran                    Sailors Union of the Pacific

2016           Darrell Bryan*                        Victoria Clipper, Interferry

2017           Bob Shrewsbury                     Western Towboat

2018           Capt. Michael Moore              Pacific Merchant Shipping Association

2019           RADM John Lockwood            Lockwood and Associates

2020           Presentation not held

2021           Doug Dixon*                                Pacific Fishermen Shipyard and PFI Marine Electric

2022           Deb Granger                            Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County

2023           Warren Aakervik                    Ballard Oil

2024           Sarah Scherer                        Transportation Institute

2025 GEORGE BLOMBERG PORT OF SEATTLE

* deceased

PUBLIC OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR AWARD

1998    Karen Schmidt Washington State House

1999    Jeanette Wood Washington State Senate

2000    Slade Gorton U.S. Senate

2001    Gary Chandler Washington State House

2002    Helen Sommers Washington State House

2003    No Selection

2004    Patty Murray U.S. Senate

2005    Ed Murray Washington State House

2006    Pat Davis Port of Seattle Commission

2007    Ted Bottiger Port of Tacoma Commission

2008    Norm Dicks U.S. House of Representatives

2009    Dennis McLerran Puget Sound Clean Air Agency

2010    Bill Bryant Port of Seattle Commission

2011    Rep. Judy Clibborn Washington State House

2012    Gael Tarleton Washington State House

2013    John Dwyer U.S. Coast Guard

2014    Rick Larsen U.S. House of Representatives

2015    Stephanie Bowman Port of Seattle

            Clare Petrich Port of Tacoma

2016     A.D. Vickery Seattle Fire Department

2017    John Wolfe Northwest Seaport Alliance

2018    Roque Deherrera City of Seattle

2019    Maria Cantwell U.S. Senate

2020    Presentation not held

2021    Amy Scarton Washington State Department of Transportation

2022    Steve Metruck Port of Seattle

2023    Tremain Holloway Maritime High School

2024    Nicole Teutschel Office of U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell

2025 DAN STRAUSS Seattle city council member

Educator of the year

2024    Capt. Al Bruce     Sea Scouts

2025 Tyson Trudel Maritime High school