Houston Shipyard Cuts Launching Program to 5 Minutes
When Houston Shipbuilding corporation launches two Liberty-type ships Thursday and Saturday there will be no fanfare, no work stoppage. Under a new policy announced by Arthur Stout, president of the Houston shipyard, future launching, with some exceptions, will be completely streamlined -- the sponsor will just break the quart of champagne on the ship's bow and the band will play the "Star Spangled Banner." There will be no principal speaker, no introduction of guests, no master of ceremonies.
Launching Time Cut Down
Future Houston shipyard launchings are expected to take about five minutes. Formerly the programs ran half an hour, then they were cut in half to fifteen minutes. The first launching under the new streamlined program will take place Thursday when the 10,500 ton freighter, the Edwin Ward Moore, named after the "Nelson of the Texas navy" slides down the ways shortly after noon.
The sponsor will be Mrs. H. A. Ward of Houston, wife of a former shipyard employee. Her daughter, Mrs. Catherine Ward Saunders of Houston, will be the matron of honor.
Saturday the Houston shipyard will launch the George Bellows, named after a famous American painter, with Mrs. S. C. Adams, wife of the yard's plant engineer, and Mrs. W. O. Ray, as sponsor and matron of honor, respectively.
80th and 81st Ships
Ships to be launched this week will be Nos. 80 and 81 built at the Houston yard. During previous launchings which generally took place during periods when part of the personnel were at lunch, it was customary for office and clerical workers and others on the job to stop work and witness the launching ceremonies. With the new streamlined programs there will be no work stoppages in the yard or offices.
* Article in the Galveston Tribune newspaper during the last week of August, 1943