Calhoon MEBA Engineering School -

Much of this information has been compiled from old issues of the American Marine Engineer and Marine Officer.

1966

January - NMEBA looking at feasibility of an independent training program to help alleviate the spiraling shortage of licensed engineers in the nation’s merchant marine.

March – A closely controlled expansion of National MEBA membership consistent with the nation’s changing needs for licensed marine engineers and the best interests of the Union’s members is the goal of a Union apprenticeship program endorsed this month at District No. 1 membership meetings.

June - Distribution of Operation LEAP (Licensed Engineer Apprenticeship Program) booklet to all Union Halls and begin accepting applications for cadet program. LEAP’s school will be located in a city on the mid-Atlantic seaboard or on the Gulf of Mexico. One of approximately two years in the program will be spent by apprentices aboard an MEBA vessel. The shipboard time will allow the apprentices to put to practice what they have learned in theory during an initial 6-month period at the school. A final period of about 6 months will conclude the program for each student. According to present plans, each class will contain about 300 students.

July – Large numbers of applications for enrollment in the Licensed Marine Engineers Apprenticeship Program pour into the National MEBA District No. 1 offices on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

September – The first 25-member class begins studies on September 21st in Baltimore, MD. The Calhoon MEBA Engineering School begins on two floors of the Emerson Hotel under the direction of Mr. Roy Luebbe and had a starting faculty of four.

October – The second group of students begins classes.

November – The US Coast Guard proposed regulation establishing the rating of "Apprentice Engineer" was published in the Federal Register September 3, 1966. It would also provide for acceptance of the completion of the approved training program as qualifying experience for a license as a third assistant engineer.

December – The proposed Coast Guard regulation establishing the rating of Apprentice Engineer and in effect recognizing the MEBA Licensed Marine Engineers’ Apprenticeship Program was approved this month by the United States Coast Guard.

1967

January – The school moves to the Southern Hotel in Baltimore, MD. The move will provide expanded facilities for the training program. The lease is described as a temporary move to provide more adequate facilities to a growing number of students. A permanent site for a campus complex was planned to be established in Anne Arundel County in Maryland.

March – First group of twenty apprentice engineers begin their year of study at sea.

April – First meeting of the Board of Trustees of the MEBA Training Plan.

October – The National MEBA president reported that there are now 284 students at the training school and that 153 more are on ships as apprentice engineers. Construction of machinery and welding shops is now underway. The MEBA Plans Board of Trustees this month approved a resolution to institute an unprecedented upgrading program for District No. 1 and Pacific Coast District members.

November – The License Upgrading Course for MEBA members began at CMES on November 14th.

December – The MEBA Licensed Marine Engineer Apprenticeship Program received the stamp of approval of this Maritime Administration. A telegraph sent December 21 by acting Maritime Administrator James W. Gulick to a number of the subsidized companies participating in the program stated that "since MEBA training program has been approved by the US Coast Guard and complies with criteria by that agency" and since "Maritime Administration favors efforts of this kind by the maritime industry," the Government agency "also approves the program."

1968

October – Group 1A graduates! A new era in officer training and recruitment for the U.S. Merchant Marine was ceremoniously inaugurated on Sunday, October 27 with ritualistic style and splendor at cap-and-gown commencement exercises this month for the first class to be graduated by the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School.

December – Group 2A graduates in the main ballroom of the Lord Baltimore Hotel.

1969

May – Richard R. Pattershall, a member of Group 5, was congratulated for being the 100th graduate of the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School.

September – September 1969 marked the third anniversary of CMES. A total of 194 Third Assistant Engineers had graduated.

1970

May – Last class to enter the two-year apprentice-cadet program begins.

June – CMES mourned the death of Instructor Egon Heinrich. Mr. Heinrich received his chief engineer license in 1961. He served as engineer on both passenger and cargo ships prior to becoming an instructor in the Electrical Department in January 1967. (The globe that currently stands in our Library was donated by his fellow co-workers and students in his memory.)

September – The building at 9 Light Street was purchased by the MEBA Training Fund.

November – The U.S. Coast Guard approved the expansion of the apprentice engineer training program from two years to three.

1971

October – CMES celebrates its 5th anniversary. 1,423 engineers had completed the cadet program.

December – The Metropolitan Civil Association and the Ensign C. Markland Kelly, Jr., Memorial Post 174 of the American Legion chose the school as the setting for an art exhibit contest, the purpose of which was to promote their campaign for the issuance of a postage stamp commemorating the 175th anniversary of the famed U.S. Frigate Constellation, a familiar sight to the many MEBA members entering and leaving the Port of Baltimore.

1972

February – The USCG license examination, in a new format of entirely multiple choice questions, was tested for the very first time at the Calhoon school. The new examination for third assistant and second assistant engineers was expected to be in nationwide use approximately one year later.

June – Capt. Warren G. Leback, Vice President, Marine Operatios of SeaLand Service donated a model of the engine room of the SL7 ships. The model is made of plexiglass and shows all of the machinery and piping arrangement. The engine room model currently resides in the academic hallway of the Administration Building.

June – Capt. Joseph B. Cecire of Moore McCormack Lines donated a model of the SS Ormes. The model, which dates back to 1943, now resides in the lobby area of the Administration Building.

July – After six years of operation, the two-year apprentice-cadet program came to an end this month. The class, which entered in May 1970, graduated on July 13th.

1973

April – Charlie Ecker, a graduate of Class 1A, became the first graduate of the school to achieve an Unlimited First Assistant Engineers’ license.

1974

March – First group begins the new Lifeboat course at the school’s Eastern Shore location.

1975

February – On February 17th CMES began the first course for the new LNG – Liquefied Natural Gas – vessels.

July – Gilbert LaDana appointed Administrative Assistant. At that time it was the school’s second highest post.

September – CMES mourned the death of instructor Harry Shertzer. Mr. Shertzer was the Assistant Department Head of the school’s Industrial Arts Department. He came to the school in April 1968 with an extensive background in the machinist trade.

December – John Ohman became the first graduate of CMES to receive a Chief Engineers’ license.

1978

January – CMES mourned the death of Welding Instructor Alpheus ‘Sparky" Sparkman. Over 400 MEBA engineers graduated from the Welding Course during his 8½ year tenure at the school.

May – William Fortescue, a retired MEBA member, donated twelve of the fourteen licenses spanning his maritime career. The licenses cover a period from 1917 through 1976. He started in 1912 when he sailed as a deckhand. In 1917 he obtained his Third Assistant’s license and joined the MEBA. Brother Fortescue’s licenses are still on display in the Admin Building at CMES.

October – Among 20 cadets who received a Third Assistant Engineer’s license and graduated on October 26 was the school’s first woman graduate, Joyce Hanson. She won the J.M Calhoon Award and the Sea Course Award.

1980 

September – September 15th marked the fourteenth anniversary of CMES. A total of 6401 members, both cadet and engineers, had completed courses to date.

October – Courses begin at the Easton campus.

1982 

October – No further cadet classes would be admitted because of the down turn in the industry.

1983

June – Last Applied Electronics and Electricity courses for MEBA members completed. These courses were temporarily cancelled.

1984

April – Building at 9 Light Street sold. Due to an economic depression within the industry, the school had to cut staff and reduce the number of courses offered to members.

July – All courses now consolidated at the Easton campus. With the termination of classes on July 27, a total of 7,668 MEBA Members had completed the regularly scheduled courses.

1991

September – Larry O’Toole begins as new school director.

1992

July – Founder, Jesse Calhoon’s name was restored to the Calhoon MEBA Engineering School.

1994

January – CMES conducts first Advanced Fire Fighting course.

May/June – CMES begins offering EPA Refrigerant Transition and Recovery Certification testing as a result of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments.

November/December – Apex Marine Corp. donated a crude oil washing machine from the SS Golden Monarch before the vessel’s conversion from a tanker to a bulk carrier. This training aid and exhibit currently resides in the academic hallway of the Admin Building.

1995

July/August – First MEBA member earns an ISCET certification as Industrial Electronic Technician. The ISCET exam was given as part of the Analog Electronics course.

September - Lou Marciello becomes the first MEBA member to complete his college degree through the Thomas Edison State College program. Due to the efforts of retired Assistant Director Art Newberry a special arrangement between CMES and Thomas Edison State College allows MEBA members to receive up to 46 college credits for Cadet courses.

November/December – CMES begins working with Thomas Edison State College. Graduates from the Cadet Program are eligible to receive college credits for the work they did.

1996

May – Peter Hammond named director of CMES.

December - College credit recommendations received through the American Council on Education for eight CMES courses: Advanced Fire Fighting, HAZMAT, Electrical Troubleshooting, Electricity, LNG Tankship, Ship's Medicine, Steam Engineering, and Tankship Safety.

1997

May - College credit recommendations received through the American Council on Education for CMES's Analog Electronics course.

July – First annual Calhoon Alumni Association reunion held at CMES.

1998

January – CMES launches school web site.

February – CMES begins Gas Turbine Engineering course. It is the first gas turbine course in the country to be approved by the USCG.

1999

January - Certification by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) of the School's Quality Standards System. CMES received Standards of Certification for Training Centers and Standards of Certification for Simulator Centers.

May - CMES mourned the death of Welding Instructor Tom Cobb. Tom joined the CMES faculty in 1968. The Welding Lab was dedicated to Tom when he retired in 1996 to honor his dedication and hard work throughout his years of service to the School.

July - Announcements were made at the Calhoon Alumni Association Reunion about intentions to construct the MEBA Merchant Marine Memorial in tribute to all departed MEBA members who served our Union with such competence and dedication.

2000

January - Henry Phillips named CMES Director. Henry is a 1972 graduate of the Calhoon School and the first alumnus to be appointed Director.

February - The old Calhoon School/Southern Hotel at 9 Light Street is torn down. Members of the CAA were on hand to collect bricks and granite for use in the MEBA Merchant Marine Memorial.

April - Groundbreaking Ceremony held for the Roy Luebbe Center. The Luebbe Center, named after the School's first Director, houses a state-of-the-art cafeteria, conference room, and additional dorm rooms.

2001

June - College credit recommendations received through the American Council on Education for six additional CMES courses: Applied Diesels, Instrumentation, Programmable Logic Controllers, Gas Turbine Engineering, Diesel Engineering, and Refrigeration.

June - Dedication ceremony held for the Roy Luebbe Center.

2002

March - John Crane Lips, CSX, and USSM donate a 47,160-pound six-blade propeller to the MEBA Merchant Marine Memorial.

May - Joyce H. Matthews named Director of CMES. Joyce is the first woman Director of the school.

2003

January - Member Jeff Hauck delivered a 634-pound anchor for the MEBA Merchant Marine Memorial that was donated by the International Shipholding Group.

October - Ribbon Cutting and Dedication Ceremony for the new Propulsions Systems Building. School Director Joyce Matthews and MEBA President Ron Davis cut the ribbon at the entrance to the building that was converted from the old cafeteria.

October - Groundbreaking Ceremony held for the MEBA Merchant Marine Memorial. Golden shovels were brandished by MEBA President Ron Davis, School Director Joyce Matthews, Marine Transport Corp's Tom Murphy (MEBA Trustee), Matson's Capt. Jack Sullivan (MEBA Trustee), Calhoon Alumni Association President Rick Simonson, and Chairman of the Memorial Committee Bill Van Loo.

2004

January - The MEBA Board of Trustees approves the construction of a multi-purpose bridge simulator suite, a 235-seat auditorium, a renovated lounge area with a bar, and a refurbished family activity area for members' children and families.

April - Delivery of more items for the MEBA Merchant Marine Memorial: two five-ton anchors from the Mayaguez, a ship's bell from the African Sun, a binnacle and telegraph from the Harvard Victory, and a brass ship's wheel. Many thanks for the Maritime Administration for helping with this important project.

June - College credit recommendations received through the American Council on Education for four additional CMES courses: Data Communications and Networking, Maritime Security Officer, Shipboard Electrical Systems, and Small Arms.

2005

February - Dedication ceremony held for the Bridge Simulator Suite and the Art Newberry Auditorium. The multi-purpose simulation bridge trainer suite allows our deck officers to receive advanced training on some of the most sophisticated modeling and imaging equipment in the world. The new auditorium was dedicated to Art Newberry, the longtime Assistant Director at the School, who retired the previous August.

October - Dedication ceremony held for the MEBA Merchant Marine Memorial. MEBA's 10-acre Memorial Park was created to honor fallen seafarers who have delivered the goods and answered the call of this country since 1775.

2006

May - The first annual Maritime Day ceremony was held on grounds of the MEBA Merchant Marine Memorial. A dogwood tree was planted in a ceremony to commemorate the occasion.

June - CMES mourns the death of Internal Auditor Bob Riddervold. Bob was instrumental in the establishment of CMES's Quality Standards System and saw us through our initial audit with Det Norske Veritas. Thereafter, Bob continued to lend his services in the capacity of Internal Auditor.

August - CMES suffers another loss in the death of instructor Doug Birt. Doug worked with many courses but was instrumental in the refurbishing of our Steam Engineering course.

September - This month is the 40th anniversary of the first cadet group starting classes at CMES.

December - Louis Marciello is named Director of CMES.