2010 Recipient Commodore Kenneth Orcutt
The 2010 Lalonde Spirit of the Seas Award recipient is Commodore Kenneth R. Orcutt of Irvine, Ca., #1385-R, nominated by Capt. Tom Stapleton, #2328-R. Orcutt was born in Wittier, Ca. in 1925 and has lead a very rewarding life.
Commodore Orcutt is a consummate professional because he has always explained and made clear his expectations as the Master of his ship. He ran a tight ship, always firm but fair and consistent in his demeanor and manner. He was an outstanding delegator, empowering and supporting his officers. He was an early pioneer in the use of programmable calculators and personal computers in the maritime industry. He wrote his first shipboard programs in 1974 while master of the SS Transoneida for Matson Navigation. Using his programmable scientific calculator, the Commodore wrote numerous programs for the maritime industry: celestial navigation programs, nautical almanac predictions, loran lines of position, shipboard management, vessel stability, crew lists, payroll, inventory, requisitions, and much more. Eventually he rewrote all the Hewlett-Packard navigation pack programs for his calculator. While sailing for Matson he mentored many young officers that sailed for him and developed important software for HP-97 and HP 85 navigation computers. Unlike today’s maritime software that is written by non-mariners, Commodore Orcutt routinely would write programs and leave the computer/calculator on the bridge for a few days as he awaited user feedback to improve the product. It was not uncommon for him to take this information from these users and make the software modifications after spending long hours in his foxhole (office). The finished product was always user-friendly software for ships’ officers. HP Computers offered him a full time programmer position but he declined, preferring to continue sailing.
We were fortunate to have both Ken and his lovely wife Patricia join us in Tampa to accept his Lalonde Spirit of the Seas Award and Capt. Philllips was honored to present it to him in person. Well Done!
You can read the full story in Sidelights June 2010 issue.
History
The Father Maurice Lalonde Spirit of the Seas Award is the highest honor that the Council of American Master Mariners can give its members. It is named for one of our members, Captain/Father Maurice Lalonde. Father Lalonde, in his early career, graduated from the New York State Maritime Academy and served as a Naval Officer in WW II. He then went back to sea as a civilian mariner, sailing in all deck officer billets, including Master Mariner. He then came ashore and studied for the Catholic priesthood. After his ordination, he went back to sea for awhile and donated his salary to his priestly order. He again returned ashore and spent most of his remaining career as a foreign missionary. He obviously is a man of a tremendously giving nature. The recipients of this award represent this kind of overall selfless spirit.
2011 Nominations
Nominations for the 2011 Lalonde "Spirit of the Seas" award will open in September 2010. The 2011 award will be presented at the 2011 AGM in the Washington DC area.
Nominations are open to any member, living or deceased, for all of the following: humanitarianism, professionalism, seamanship, life-time achievement and noteworthy accomplishments, along with contributions to the maritime industry and the 'Spirit of the Seas' in their everyday lives. An eligible nominee may be a member in any category of the CAMM National organization in good standing (who is/was current in their dues to CAMM National and to their chapter, if they were also chapter members). Individuals must be nominated by a CAMM National member who also is in good standing.